one buran in good condition, no reserve price
The once glorious Soviet space program is now a rusting shambles.
Russia's post-Soviet space program has been notable mainly in the last few years for its innovative solution to funding missions: transporting citizens to space at a cost of $20 million per flight. California businessman Dennis Tito made the first paid trip aboard a Soyuz in April 2001, followed by South African Mark Shuttleworth one year later. 'N Sync member Lance Bass is apparently training to be the third "space tourist", despite denials from the Russians.
Sadly, other recent events have demonstrated that the Russian program remains a rusting shell of its former glory. Last month, the roof of the Baikonur Cosmodrome collapsed, killing eight. Also destroyed in the collapse, due to heavy rain and tons of construction equipment stored on the roof, was the Buran 1.01 space shuttle. The Buran 1.01 was the only of the five Buran built during the final days of the Soviet space program to actually fly in space, during an unmanned test mission in 1988.
Meanwhile, another Buran - the OK-GLI - failed to attract any bidders in an auction run by KFWB-AM Los Angeles and First FX, Inc. as agents for NPO Molniya. The OK-GLI was a test shuttle like the American shuttle Enterprise, and was displayed in Australia during the 2000 Olympics. This shuttle remains available to anyone interested in paying the $6 million asking price. Other Burans have also met with less that glorious fates: Burans 2.01, 2.02, and 2.03 are dismantled and rotting outside the factory where they were built. The OK-TVA, used for heat and vibration tests, is now an amusement ride in Moscow's Gorky Park.
Also, financial problems have hindered the construction of the Progress cargo ships needed to supply the International Space Station. If RKK Energia, the Russian company that builds the Progress, does not receive several million to purchase needed equipment, the permanent crew aboard the ISS will have to evacuate in November.
25.06.2002 © ljr