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Buran

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description Buran Overview

Buran was a Soviet reusable spaceplane developed as a counterpart to the United States Space Shuttle program. It completed its first and only orbital flight in November 1988, launching uncrewed atop an Energia rocket. The mission successfully demonstrated automated flight capabilities, including a precise unpiloted landing. The Buran program was ultimately canceled following the dissolution of the Soviet Union due to a lack of funding, and the flight prototype was later destroyed when its hangar collapsed in 2002.

help Buran FAQ

Did Buran ever carry cosmonauts into orbit?

No. Buran completed one orbital mission on November 15, 1988, and the entire flight was conducted without a crew under automatic control.

How was Buran launched compared with the US Space Shuttle?

Buran was carried into orbit by the Energia rocket, whose main propulsion system was separate from the spaceplane. The US Space Shuttle orbiter used its own main engines during ascent, drawing propellant from an external tank.

Why did the Soviet Union cancel the Buran program?

The program became financially unsustainable as the Soviet Union entered a severe economic and political crisis. It was formally ended in the early 1990s after Buran had completed only its uncrewed test flight.

What happened to the Buran orbiter after its only flight?

The flown orbiter was stored at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. It was destroyed in 2002 when the roof of its hangar collapsed, also killing several workers.

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