Russia's secret space shuttles have been sitting in plain sight for 22 years (Reported MSN 18.06.15)
The Russian Space Shuttle Buran programme
1.In 1974, Russia launched its largest, most expensive project in space exploration history. The stars of the project, called the Buran program, were its space shuttles, which were built in secret from designs the Soviet secret police stole from NASA.
The Soviets invested anywhere from tens of millions to billions on the project, which was terminated in 1993. The sites where the shuttles were laid to rest have since been completely abandoned. Photographer Ralph Mirebs recently visited one of these dust-ridden graveyards and chronicled the journey on his LiveJournal blog, where you can see the full collection.
2. Russia's secret space shuttles have been sitting in plain sight for 22 years The abandoned garage, also called a hangar, is located on a site that belong to Russia's space launch facility, called Baikonur Cosmodrome, where rockets are still launched today.
3. Russia's secret space shuttles The abandoned hangar is 433 feet long and 203 feet high with giant doors on either end, shown below, that slid open to release the shuttles.
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4. Russia's secret space shuttles Near the top of this photo are beams attached with cranes that could lift up to 400 tons.
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5. Russia's secret space shuttles Buran is Russian for "snowstorm" or "blizzard." The Russians built only few prototypes of these shuttles, and only one of them actually flew.
5. Russia's secret space shuttles Buran is Russian for "snowstorm" or "blizzard." The Russians built only few prototypes of these shuttles, and only one of them actually flew.
