The Energiya-Buran Story.

The idea for the Complex was formulated in 1975 by NPO "Energiya" – almost immediately after Glushko replaced Mishin as the Designer General.

But there was a "personal" aspect to this story. Glushko was against Korolyov's N-1 booster project, but as soon as he became a Boss – he formulated a Great Project – with a double explanation and justification for the politicians. The reasons cited in the Central Committee Decision included:

To preserve the leading roll of the Soviet Union in Space Explorations, and;
To eliminate possible American superiority when the Space Shuttle project is completed – which will afford the USA the capability of delivering into orbit and safe return to the Earth heavy payloads – including military ones!

But Glushko went further with his dream of designing and building the biggest and heaviest Space booster – and it had a great influence on the opinion and perception of the project. He offered to design and construct not just a Space Shuttle system – but two systems:

The Energiya heavy lift booster – which could deliver to orbit a payload of 100 – as well as Buran – a re-usable spacecraft, – which could be delivered, into orbit by Energiya or another heavy lift booster, which might be constructed later.

The existence of those two separate systems – the Energiya booster and Buran – was the main difference between the Soviet plan and the U.S. Space Shuttle system.

Glushko's ideas and plans were the basis for the Government Decree of February 17, 1976 re: "Design and construction of Re-usable Space System 1K11K25".

The Energiya – space booster was planned for use 10 times each.
Buran – was planned for use 20 times. (As is the U.S Space Shuttle).

The chief design bureau for both systems was NPO (a.k.a. Energiya), but while the booster was primarily designed and constructed under direct supervision of NPO, Buran however was only designed by NPO. More than 200 different space enterprises (companies) took part in it's actual construction.

The main customer for both systems was The Ministry of Defense (MD). Because MD was mainly interested in the booster – with it's clear application for any heavy payload – the design and construction of the booster was given priority.

During the Energiya booster design and construction period there were a number of "side" projects, attendant to the main one. These included:

Design and construction of the 1st stage boosters for Energiya – the Zenith – in the Ukraine.

Design of the super-heavy booster Volcano – with a 200-ton capacity to orbit (later canceled).

Design and construction of a middle-class booster Energiya-M – with a 30-ton capacity to orbit (never completed – canceled).

Design and construction of the best modern rocket engines the RD-170 for use on the Energiya 2nd stage.

Initially, the first launch of the Energiya-Buran combination was scheduled for 1986, but because Buran construction and tests were behind schedule, it was decided to launch Energiya with a different payload – a military heavy reconnaissance satellite Poluse (military designation "Skif-DM"). This launch took place May 15, 1987 and proved the booster a success.

The first launch of Energiya-Buran was planned for October 29, 1988, but the countdown was stopped 51 seconds before the launch because of problems with the "launch targeting" system.

President Gorbachev, who was invited to Baikonur for that "glorious" launch, was very dissatisfied. The launch was meant to commemorate the Anniversary of the Great October Revolution of November 7, which at that time meant a great deal to the still intact Soviet Union.

A second attempt – on November 15th, 1988 – was successful. The booster worked properly. Buran – completely and automatically – made 2 orbits and returned to the landing strip at Baikonur with a deviation of only 1 meter from the targeted landing point!

But this glorious beginning was actually the beginning of the end. Starting in 1989 there were less funds in the budget for both parts of the Energiya-Buran system. Buran-2 went through the tests and was ready for launch preparation in 1991 – the year the Soviet Union collapsed. With the ensuing reorganization and chaos – people's attentions went elsewhere...

The Buran program was officially canceled in 1993. There are still Energiya boosters and Buran-2 in the assembly building at Baikonur – the cost of dismantling the system would be more than a launch! A sad ending for what was then the biggest enterprise in Soviet Space history.