Energia - Buran Space Transportation System

[Willythekid]

Diagram of the Buran control system. The heart of it was the computer system, which consisted of 8 Biser-4 multiprocessor computers (red color). In total the system had 32 processors. The image also shows in blue the quartz generator with its five redundancy channels.

 

[Willythekid]

Some rare but interesting views of two optical systems of the Buran:

Visual Navigation Measurement System (NIVS)
This system would be used for approach and docking maneuvers in orbit (together with other means).

Stellar-Solar Instrument (ZSP)
A set of star trackers designed to determine Buran's position and orientation in orbit. These data would then be used to remove the error from the three so-called Gyro-Stabilized Platforms (GSPs).

 

[Willythekid]

And video:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1773815339689603569

View: https://twitter.com/i/status/1773815339689603569
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[Willythekid]

Hi!!
Panoramic view of the cargo bay of the Buran OK-KS model.
RKK Energia factory (Moscow), mid-1980s.

 

[Willythekid]

Interesting panoramic views of Buran #1, during the preparations in Baikonur for its first (and last) launch in November 1988.To highlight in the views, the 37KB module for the collection in this mission of the very valuable flight data.

 

[Willythekid]

In 1977, a decision was made to develop radio altimeters to measure flight altitude during the descent and landing modes of the reusable Buran shuttle. Developed by UPKB Detal, the Low-Altitude Radio Altimeter A-039 «Polosa» was intended for automatic landing, and the High-Altitude Radio Altimeter A-067 «Virazh» was intended directly for measuring flight altitude in the descent and landing modes of the Buran in the altitude range from 0.5 to 25 km. The famous only flight of the Buran in November 1988 took place largely thanks to the radio altimeters developed at UPKB Detal, with the help of which the soft landing of the Buran was carried out in automatic mode.

 

[Willythekid]

And video...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1777087639465722312

View: https://twitter.com/WDequid/status/1777087639465722312
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[Willythekid]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1778113692543963440

View: https://twitter.com/WDequid/status/1778113692543963440
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[publiusr]

That still spikes my blood pressure...

 

[Byeman]

That still spikes my blood pressure...

What? That a transportation system was mothballed when it was found that there was no cargo for it to carry and it was too expensive to operate. And was a folly to develop in the first place.

 

[publiusr]

Seeing any artifact crushed breaks my heart...the loss of its other ride--AN-225, hurt even worse.

 

[Willythekid]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1778548274242236801

View: https://twitter.com/WDequid/status/1778548274242236801
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[Willythekid]

Hi!

Buran's Auxiliary Power Unit (APU).
Called RTVD-14, it was developed by Russian turbine giant Saturn-Lyulka.
The Buran had three of these 235 kg units.

 

[Willythekid]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1779245350202507576

View: https://twitter.com/WDequid/status/1779245350202507576
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[Willythekid]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1779278623343530471

View: https://twitter.com/WDequid/status/1779278623343530471
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[Willythekid]

Deciphering the Buran

Some elements of the Buran, seen in these photos:

1 - Accelerometers
2 - RVV (Vertical Radio Altimeter) / PMV (Infrared Horizon Sensors)
3 - Window
4 - GSPs (Gyro-Stabilized Platforms)
5 - NIVS (Visual Navigation Measurement System)
6 - ZSP (Stellar-Solar Instrument)
7 - ZSP's protective cover
8 - Electronics boxes
9 - Hatch

 

[GTX]

Well, one of the test articles is on display at the Technik Museum, Speyer, Germany. I saw it there a few years ago.

 

[Willythekid]

Yes, the truth is that they are incredible machines, with a quality of manufacturing to highlight... Those who have visited these spacecrafts in Baikonur, the so-called "explorers of the Buran", sometimes highlight that the interior of them looks "as if recently left the factory", even though they have been heavily vandalized. But they can still be rescued. Some time ago, Dmitry Rogozin, when he was the Head of Roscosmos, mentioned that it is the Russian Federation's intention to one day return these spacecrafts to Russia. The issue is complicated, because as I understand it, the Buran of Baikonur are owned by a businessman from Kazakhstan. Greetings!

 

[Willythekid]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1780541512964526110

View: https://twitter.com/WDequid/status/1780541512964526110
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[Willythekid]

Hi!
Energia's KBKhA RD-0120 super-engine. Two panoramas.

 

[Willythekid]

Two important devices for the Buran's navigation system: accelerometers and the angular velocity sensor. Both devices were developed by the Pilyugin Center (JSC NPTsAP), which also developed the Buran's «Biser-4» (SH16M) computer.

 

[Willythekid]

Buran in 3D...! A couple of anaglyphs.
The Myasishchev VM-T «Atlant» transporting Buran #1 from Zhukovsky Air Base (Moscow) to Baikonur Cosmodrome. Mid 1980's.

 

[publiusr]

Unlike Columbia style OMS pod engines (now Orion’s service module engines)—Buran’s two big engines burned sintin…ultra/refined kerosene. Buran able to maneuver better without SSME’s weighing it down.

How much greater performance could it have had over a Columbia type orbiter?

 

[TMA1]

The RD-0120 engines are a fascinating divergence from our hydrolox engines. Amazing pieces of engineering. Both ours and their hydrolox engines had positives and negatives and both former soviet and our American engineers learned from one another's designs.

 

[Willythekid]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1782374155809083868

View: https://twitter.com/WDequid/status/1782374155809083868
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[Dew]

A nice model I couldn't fit in my suitcase during a visit to Samara some time ago:

https://flic.kr/p/6GN1s

https://flic.kr/p/6GN28

 

[Willythekid]

Google Street View:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[Willythekid]

The Energia rocket prepared for its first launch with the Polyus satellite, actually the Skif-DM laser station mock-up. Circa May 1987.

 

[Byeman]

Unlike Columbia style OMS pod engines (now Orion’s service module engines)—Buran’s two big engines burned sintin…ultra/refined kerosene. Buran able to maneuver better without SSME’s weighing it down.

How much greater performance could it have had over a Columbia type orbiter?

unsupported statement. not based on facts or engineering.

 

[Willythekid]

Buran in HD

 

[Willythekid]

Buran #1's during manufacturing in the Tushino Machine-Building Plant (Moscow). Mid-1980s.

 

[publiusr]

unsupported statement. not based on facts or engineering.

It was a question--not a statement.

 

[Byeman]

It was a question--not a statement.

you said greater performance, not difference in performance

 

[Willythekid]

A splendid model of the Buran, at the VDNKH (exhibition center, Moscow).

 

[Willythekid]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1786158410636968443

View: https://twitter.com/WDequid/status/1786158410636968443
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[Willythekid]

Ghostly image of Buran #2, in the MZK building in Baikonur.
It is said that this shuttle was 95% finished, with all its equipment installed, 37KB module, docking module, robotic arm, etc etc.... Those who have visited it say that it is impossible to transmit the enormous size of this “thing”!!!
After the program was cancelled, the Russians removed all the electronics to end up in these last years being vandalized by some furtive visitors. But it can still be rescued! Her interior looks like fresh from the factory. Hopefully it will one day end up safe in a museum.

 

[Willythekid]

Two space beauties:
The Buran and the NASA Shuttle, with very good precision at the same scale.

 

[Willythekid]

Some interesting screenshots of the Buran (Part II), with unpublished images (I think...). Despite all the years that have passed, the Buran still looks futuristic, and powerful.

 

[Willythekid]

Rare views of the so-called «ZSP» (Stellar-Solar Instrument), a set of star trackers that measured the line-of-sight vector to at least two stars. Using this information, the on-board computers calculated the orientation between these stars and the orbiter to determine the vehicle's attitude. (Bart Hendrickx)

 

[Willythekid]

Interesting panoramic views of the Buran, during the preparations in Baikonur for its first (and last) launch in November 1988.To highlight in the views, the 37KB module and the ZSP star trackers system.