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ArsTechnica has a story about the abandoned Soviet era Space Shuttle project.
When the project was cancelled, (along with the USSR), like so many other things in the Soviet Union at that time, the workers were sent home, the doors locked, and the entire project lies abandoned.
No attempt seems to have been made to fill museums, or salvage any of the shuttles for historical purposes.
The photos are from Ralph Mirebs from the Baikonur Cosmodrome who's page has many more. The Page is in Russian but the Google Translate version renders the descriptions to passable English.
Similar photo essays for other abandoned Soviet era projects Ekranoplan, a missile carrying ground effect vehicle designed for dash attack on naval targets or shore installations. (don't miss paging arrows at side of images).
Original Submission
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Wednesday June 17 2015, @03:04AM
It's been common knowledge for a good 10 years these shuttles got abandoned. It's sad these things couldn't have been put into a museum somewhere.
That said, it would have been a huge slap in the face for Putin to put these things in a museum, they're proof neither the USSR nor Russia could git-r-done.
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday June 17 2015, @06:29AM
Common knowledge or not, I've never seen more than one, and never such amazing photos. There are two different designs in these pictures, most easily recognized by the nose thrusters. Looking at the detailed pictures, I suspect that they had trouble sealing the craft air-tight, and that may be why no manned flights were attempted.
The cockpit looks like this was never a serious space vehicle:
SEE: https://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/3409/46616872.dd/0_cbc14_81205244_orig.jpg [yandex.ru]
Actual Flight Buran: http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/model_buran_files/Buran%20010.jpg [flankers-site.co.uk] (shown in mock-up vehicle of the day)
Compare the Shuttle Cockpit http://cdn.visualnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Endeavour_flight_deck.jpg [visualnews.com]
Note that neither of the two vehicles shown are not the one that was flown, and these may have been trainers.
The actual flight Buran is pictured on Ralph's page, from official pictures, one of the few without Ralphs copyright.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by paulej72 on Wednesday June 17 2015, @11:37AM
The one with the simpler thrusters was a test article like Enterprise. That is the the one from which the interior shots were done. That is why some of the pieces are wooden as they were just there for size and weight not function. The one with the missing tiles around the nose cone, was a real space-worthy orbiter that never had the chance to fly.
Team Leader for SN Development
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 17 2015, @08:30AM
I'm fairly sure the USSR and Russia are more than capable of completing the job.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday June 17 2015, @05:26PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/06/17/russian-official-wants-to-investigate-whether-u-s-moon-landings-actually-happened/ [washingtonpost.com]
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.