Buran

Buran was the Soviet Union's space shuttle program, designed to develop a reusable spacecraft similar to NASA's Space Shuttle. It consisted of a winged orbiter and a powerful booster called Energia, capable of launching payloads into space. Buran could carry crew or cargo and land like an airplane, allowing for rapid reuse. Although only one Buran orbiter flew in a single unmanned mission in 1988, the program aimed to facilitate frequent, cost-effective space access. It demonstrated advanced Soviet space technology but was ultimately canceled after the Cold War's end due to shifting priorities and funding constraints.