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Ptichka
2K ( GRAU index serial number 11F35 2K, NPO Molniya airframe number 1.02), often referred to as ''Ptichka'' (, "little bird", although this was also a nickname for all orbiters in the programme), is the second ''Buran''-class orbiter, produced as part of the Soviet/Russian Buran programme. Although 2K was the closest to being completed of any of the ''Buran''-class orbiters (after the orbiter ''Buran''), it was never finished. The program was officially cancelled in 1993, at which point the shuttle was 95-97% complete. The proposed official name for 2K was ''Burya'' (, "storm" or "tempest"). Projected flights 2K was being prepared for its maiden flight to perform the first fully regular ''Buran''-class orbiter operation. (The flight of ''Buran'' was lacking regular thermal control and power systems.) This orbiter was also planned to receive a remote manipulator and docking system. As of 1989, the orbital flight test program for the second orbiter was split into two miss ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Buran Programme
The ''Buran'' programme (, , "Snowstorm", "Blizzard"), also known as the "VKK Space Orbiter programme" (), was a Soviet and later Russian reusable spacecraft project that began in 1974 at the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute in Moscow and was formally suspended in 1993. In addition to being the designation for the whole Soviet/Russian reusable spacecraft project, ''Buran'' was also the name given to orbiter 1K, which completed one uncrewed spaceflight in 1988 and was the only Soviet reusable spacecraft to be launched into space. The Buran-class orbiters used the expendable Energia rocket as a launch vehicle. The Buran programme was started by the Soviet Union as a response to the United States Space Shuttle program and benefited from extensive espionage undertaken by the KGB of the unclassified US Space Shuttle program, resulting in many superficial and functional similarities between American and Soviet Shuttle designs. Although the Buran class was similar in appearance ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
