Buran-Energia

Here is the pictures I took in the Technic museum at Speyer (Germany) about the Apollo & Beyond Exposition.

Today is the opening of the « Apollo & Beyond » exposition at the Speyer museum (Technik Museum Speyer). This exposition which is about space has to main attraction the OK-GLI shuttle.

After lot of troubles (administration troubles) she finally finds a home where she can take advantage of her retirement.

I will put pictures as soons as I get back.

Update:

Pictures of the exhibition I took.

Here is a reporting (cut in 3 parts) about the test pilots of the Buran program, especially the pilots the OK-GLI test shuttle. This reporting was broadcasted on the « Culture » channel on russian television in 2002.

The shuttle OK-TVA was a thermal, mechanical and acoustic test model. Like all others tests shuttles it was a full scale model. In 1997, the shuttle was bring to the Gorky Park (at Moscow) to be modified in an entertainment. Unfortunatly, it hasn’t bring enough people as it was planned and the managers have to face financial difficulties.

During the month of august a part (left side) of the heat shield of the shuttle was removed, allowing us to see the fuselage in aluminium alloy. No explanations were given, but it seems that it was done for repairing the shield. Indeed, this « shield » is not the real, it’s made from wooden pieces which decay because the shuttle is not sheltered.

More pictures in the gallery.

The renovation of the EPOS plane finished on last August 20 in the Monino museum.

The museum’s employees had, for the occasion, organised a little expostion about the history of this plane and a photo session for children.

Another pictures.

Here is some pictures of the destroyed 1.01 Buran space shuttle (the only model which flown) and the Energia launcher. After its historical flight the shuttle was parked in the 112 hangar piggy backed of an Energia launcher. Unfortunatly in 2001 the roof collapsed during its renovation, destroying the shuttle and the launcher and killing 7 workers.

Those pictures were taken in the begining of the year 2008.

Buran is often considerated as a poor copy of the american shuttle just because it looks similar (in shape), but the differences are deeper, that’s why I made a comparison (buran.su) between the 2 systems, STS and Buran-Energia. This comparison is based on the mains functionnalities of the launchers and shuttles, on-board computer, engines, dimensions, etc…

Moreover, I compared the 2 systems in their begining, because Buran didn’t evolved.

The EPOS plane is beeing restaured for some days now at the Monino museum. This museum had a lot of unique planes such as the prototype of the space combat plane, EPOS. This plane was part of the SPIRAL project, which was an horizontal launcher, which preceded Buran.

Those works are to restore the landing skid, the air speed sensor, and other mechanicals elements. But also to restore the inside of the cockpit. This restoration work is an important task and was began in 2000.

Other pictures.

Update of July 21:

Here is other pictures of the restauration.