4 ms·
It was theoretically better in selected aspects, but do we really know given how little it flew? The USSR knockoff of the Concorde was also superior on paper i
by AuthorizedCust 5y ago
It was theoretically better in selected aspects, but do we really know given how little it flew?
The USSR knockoff of the Concorde was also superior on paper in certain aspects, but firsthand accounts of flying on it and its operational history clearly expose its inferiority to western technology.
- rbanffy 5y agoWe can extrapolate from what we know. It wouldn't need engine refurbishment, which proved more costly than expected. It could operate in fully automated mode, which would allow longer stays in space. It also had ~30 tons of extra payload, which would offset some of the extra cost of the fully expendable Energia booster. Would it deliver on what Shuttle promised? No. Would it be more flexible? Yes. Would it be a good match for the other Soviet space gear? No. Had the Soviet Union not collapsed, would it have evolved into a more usable vehicle? That we'll never know.