Buran, meaning “Snowstorm” or “Blizzard”; GRAU index serial number: 11F35 1K, construction number: 1.01) was the first spaceplane to be produced as part of the Soviet/Russian Buran programme. Besides describing the first operational Soviet/Russian shuttle orbiter, “Buran” was also the designation for the entire Soviet/Russian spaceplane project and its orbiters, which were known as “Buran-class orbiters”.
Buran completed one uncrewed spaceflight in 1988, and was destroyed in 2002 when the hangar it was stored in collapsed. The Buran-class orbiters used the expendable Energia rocket, a class of super heavy-lift launch vehicle.
| Type | Buran-class orbiter |
|---|---|
| Construction number | 1.01 |
| Country | Soviet Union |
| Named after | Russian for “Snowstorm” or “Blizzard” |
| Status | Destroyed (12 May 2002) |
| First flight | 15 November 1988 |
| No. of missions | 1 |
| Crew members | 0 |
| Buran carrier |
Antonov An-225 Mriya |
Specifications
The mass of Buran is quoted as 62 tons, with a maximum payload of 30 tons, for a total lift-off weight of 105 tons.
Mass breakdown
- Total mass of structure and landing systems: 42,000 kg (93,000 lb)
- Mass of functional systems and propulsion: 33,000 kg (73,000 lb)
- Maximum payload: 30,000 kg (66,000 lb)
- Maximum liftoff weight: 105,000 kg (231,000 lb)
Dimensions
- Length: 36.37 m (119.3 ft)
- Wingspan: 23.92 m (78.5 ft)
- Height on gear: 16.35 m (53.6 ft)
- Payload bay length: 18.55 m (60.9 ft)
- Payload bay diameter: 4.65 m (15.3 ft)
- Wing chine sweep: 78 degrees
- Wing sweep: 45 degrees
Propulsion
- Total orbital manoeuvring engine thrust: 17,600 kgf (173,000 N; 39,000 lbf)
- Orbital manoeuvring engine specific impulse: 362 seconds (3.55 km/s)
- Total manoeuvring impulse: 5 kgf-sec (11 lbf-sec)
- Total RCS thrust: 14,866 kgf (145,790 N; 32,770 lbf)
- Average RCS specific impulse: 275–295 seconds (2.70–2.89 km/s)
- Normal maximum propellant load: 14,500 kg (32,000 lb)
Photos Rob Vogelaar
