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Pilot-optional was only a minor difference. The biggest difference was that Shuttles had their own propulsion system and could flew themselves using an external

Pilot-optional was only a minor difference. The biggest difference was that Shuttles had their own propulsion system and could flew themselves using an external fuel tank and a pair of boosters, while Buran was a totally "passive" space capsule that required a heavy rocket to fly - way too excessive for close Earth orbits. The reason was that USSR was years behind USA in cryogenic hydrogen-oxygen propulsion systems and simply could not create a compact and powerful enough engine that could be mounted on Buran. Basically, the whole Energia-Buran program was a good example of pointless wasting of enormous amount money and resources in USSR with no clear purpose just so that program managers and chief engineers could get state orders, privileges and money bonuses (the former two were worth more than any money in USSR). And that is why the program was closed - it was way too much even for USSR where they burned billions for military and space programs without counting.

avmich 8y ago
> The reason was that USSR was years behind USA in cryogenic hydrogen-oxygen propulsion systems and simply could not create a compact and powerful enough engine that could be mounted on Buran. Years are not that much. RD-0120 is a close cousin capabilities-wise to SSME. The size is also similar. No, Buran was separate from Energiya for other reasons - Glushko was eyeing a rocket useable for flights to the Moon and kept design decisions with that possible goal in mind. > Basically, the whole Energia-Buran program was a good example of pointless wasting of enormous amount money and resources in USSR with no clear purpose just so that program managers and chief engineers could get state orders, privileges and money bonuses (the former two were worth more than any money in USSR). That's a popular point of view. However, big as it is, Energiya-Buran project is still rather minor comparing to the whole size of the USSR state budget. The program also had side effect of developing technologies and advancing science. Many of results of that work survived and were used. I'd agree regarding lack of clear purpose, but disagree about having it as clear disadvantage. Sum of technologies has proven to have enabling effect - both in case of Energiya-Buran and in case of earlier space-related projects (e.g. project Suntan in USA).

avmich 8y ago

> The reason was that USSR was years behind USA in cryogenic hydrogen-oxygen propulsion systems and simply could not create a compact and powerful enough engine that could be mounted on Buran. Years are not that much. RD-0120 is a close cousin capabilities-wise to SSME. The size is also similar. No, Buran was separate from Energiya for other reasons - Glushko was eyeing a rocket useable for flights to the Moon and kept design decisions with that possible goal in mind. > Basically, the whole Energia-Buran program was a good example of pointless wasting of enormous amount money and resources in USSR with no clear purpose just so that program managers and chief engineers could get state orders, privileges and money bonuses (the former two were worth more than any money in USSR). That's a popular point of view. However, big as it is, Energiya-Buran project is still rather minor comparing to the whole size of the USSR state budget. The program also had side effect of developing technologies and advancing science. Many of results of that work survived and were used. I'd agree regarding lack of clear purpose, but disagree about having it as clear disadvantage. Sum of technologies has proven to have enabling effect - both in case of Energiya-Buran and in case of earlier space-related projects (e.g. project Suntan in USA).