Gr.Viper 131 Posted August 20, 2011 The full size model of the "Soviet Shuttle" was put on display at MAKS expo. What's the catch and why is it parked near a distant fence? See pics http://top.rbc.ru/society/17/08/2011/610909.shtml Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+streakeagle 871 Posted August 20, 2011 Any similarity between the shuttle Buran and the NASA space shuttle is purely coincidental. Two independent space programs with similar goals happened to produce identical solutions. Likewise, it was purely coincidence that the Tu-4 was so similar to the B-29, the RPG-18 to the M72 LAW, etc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JediMaster 451 Posted August 22, 2011 Depends on your definition of "similar goals." In fact, the goal of the Buran is closer to what the X-38 is doing now for the USAF...a military spaceplane. That's not what the STS was, but you couldn't convince the Soviet leadership of that in the late 70s/early 80s, so Buran resulted. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
