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My understanding is that they own the aerodynamic test article, the non-space prototype, equivalent to the Shuttle Enterprise. That's why it has the extra engi
by sandworm101 2y ago
My understanding is that they own the aerodynamic test article, the non-space prototype, equivalent to the Shuttle Enterprise. That's why it has the extra engines. It was able to takeoff from a runway. The big green cylinder in the cargo bay is the fuel tank.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OK-GLI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OK-GLI
- nradov 2y agoCorrect. It's a cool and unique piece of space history, even though it never went to space. Early Space Shuttle designs had jet engines for powered landings or ferry flights. But they were too heavy and had to be removed from the final design. https://avgeekery.com/201522how-the-us-space-shuttle-lost-its-jet-engines/ https://avgeekery.com/201522how-the-us-space-shuttle-lost-it...
- sandworm101 2y agoThere would have been plenty of room had shuttle not been hauling around three useless launch engines. The Buran orbiter didn't have launch engines. Buran was launched essentially as cargo by the Energia heavylift rocket. That meant Russia had a huge lifting rocket that could launch separately from Buran. The shuttle stack couldn't ever work without the orbiter. The Russian program would have been much more dynamic and flexible had the economy not pulled out the rug. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energia_(rocket) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energia_(rocket)