Buran - Pre-flight processing, launch, landing, destruction

Video showing the pre-launch processing, vehicle roll-out, launch, escorted landing, and the destruction of the orbiter due to a hanger collapse.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Buran
• Russian
• Space
• Shuttle

[malamagr]

They can make a spacecraft that flies itself and lands automatically in crosswinds, but they can't make a camera that gets a decent shot of the launch or stays on the spacecraft without shaking and going out of focus while it's flying down.

[Boy75402]

@malamagr

There is a video from Buran on orbit. I can post it if you want. It's nothing spectacular though, just shows a tile or two coming off.

[MrScott8]

I don´t know conception. Do orbiter-engines work 100% during launch, or all thurst need to lift-off provides only Energia? How many percentt of needed thurst provides orbiter engines?

Thanks

[Boy75402]

@MrScott8

Energia provided all of the lift-off. Buran did not use engines to assist in the ascent to orbit. The thinking was that Energia needed to be a self-reliant system so that it's cargo (Buran) could be switched to something else (Polyus, etc).

The American Shuttle is different in that the launch system cannot launch without the orbiter, which provides most of the ascent lift thrust. After SRB separation, the orbiter does 100% of the work getting to orbit.

[zimolag]

@Boy75402 I would be also very thankful for any on-orbit video, however non-spectacular it might be.

[zimolag]

@MrScott8 Treating the orbiter as just a payload is simply the more sensible thing to do (NVM how flawed the concept of shuttles was overall - they didn't really deliver ANY of premises and promises, mainly just sucked the funds in both US & Russia) ...the approach of STS wasted _thousands_ tons (which could be in LEO), due to pretending an _air_frame is a good form for a _space_craft.

Witness how, now, STS morphs into Ares V or Space Launch System - essentially the Energia approach.

[MrScott8]

@malamagr Launch was filmed by hand-camera and footage of flying down was filmed by pilot of escorting MiG-25. On this situation is shaking relative normal.

[MrScott8]

@Boy75402 If you would be able post it, I would glad.

Thanks

[MrScott8]

@Boy75402 System of Space Shuttle I know, so I was courious for system of Buran. I was practic sure, that buran engines can´t working 100% during lift off - Not Enough capacity for fuel.