Every USSR citizen was proud of the country’s space exploration program. One of the top Soviet spaceships, called “Buran”, could deliver weapons of mass destruction to the orbit. Discover the destiny of such spacecrafts in today’s Russia.

Made as a reaction to American space program, Soviet shuttle could carry more cargo and had a system of emergency crew rescue. Soviet authorities spent on “Buran” 17,8 billion dollars in 1982.

Comparison with the USA space shuttle.

Spacecrafts were built in a dormitory area of Moscow. To carry giant spaceships the road was widened from 4 to 8 traffic lanes. It was the only way to transport such a huge machine.

Overall there were 14 “Burans” constructed including prototypes. The spacecraft is 36,4 m long, has spread of 24 m, it weighs 105 tons and can carry up to 30 tons of cargo.

Airplanes delivered spaceships to the cosmodrome. Actually there were only 2 fully functioning “Burans”. The first has experienced only one space trip and then was put into a hangar for 17 years. It “died” there of the roof that had fallen on it.

There were also 4 models of “Buran” spaceship. One of them still rests in Baikonur cosmodrome. In the 1990s it was used by local youth for drinking sessions, so some windows are broken and its general condition is very poor.

“Baikonur”

The decision was made to transport this “Buran” to the area next to the cosmodrome museum. That is how the process looked like.

Work done!

Location: Baikonur

via heavytransport