GreggBz wrote:
A while ago I saw the Russian "Space Shuttle" for sale on e-bay. Basically, a copy of the NASA model. It was however, completely successfull in a single un-manned testo flight.
Actually the one they were auctioning off had never been to space, Buran has been used as the name of all the Russian Space Shuttles, technically only the one which flew in Nov 88 is called Buran. I took a picture of the one in Gorky Park, and I am sure several of the Aussies on the board have seen the one that was displayed at Sydney for the Olympics. Most dont consider the flight terribly successful, the poor heat shield design, caused a burn through into the aircraft, it wasnt a fatal flaw because it was unmanned, but in all likelyhood any crew would have died in the crew cabin.
-Tig
