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Where you in the news recently?

I am stumped. Russian space shuttle? Still American made shuttle?

President Camacho wrote:delete that post 2... wtf... I'm sorry stahrwe.

I'm curious, but no problem.

An astronaut?

NY152 wrote:I am stumped.

Well, you are not alone, if you have tried stah's other riddles/puzzles, they are very difficult, but fun.

I'm not seeing the "fun"...

A test shuttle like Constitution or Pathfinder?

Buran "Snowstorm"

Interbane wrote:Buran "Snowstorm"

Well done Interbane

It is not widely known, but during the 1980's the Soviet Union developed a reusable launch vehicle patterned after the US STS. It did have some differences; it was assembled in a horizontal configuration, transported by train to the launch complex where it was raised to verticle for launch; It had no main engines on the orbiter, see the picture of the aft section. It had four liquid fueled boosters, while the US STS has two solid fueled boosters and three main engines.

The Buran was successfully launched one time but was destoyed when its hangar collapsed. The Soviets subsequently abandoned the program due to cost and poltical considerations but they are rumored to be starting it up again as the end of the US program will leave the world without a multipurpose heavy lift vehicle.

In all of the photos of the "Snowstorm" except the last one it looks like the outlines have been painted on in Photoshop. I know that's not the case, but it produces an eerie effect when looking at the photos. The sharpness of the black doesn't fit with the muted tones of the surroundings and even other machinery. Very odd.

bleachededen wrote:In all of the photos of the "Snowstorm" except the last one it looks like the outlines have been painted on in Photoshop. I know that's not the case, but it produces an eerie effect when looking at the photos. The sharpness of the black doesn't fit with the muted tones of the surroundings and even other machinery. Very odd.

And on the trailing edge of the left wing there is a brown spot which looks like they pulled tape off.

Here is a picture of the fate of the Buran, at least until now.