Abandoned Russian space shuttles
Discussion
They've not been "found" because they have never been "lost".
The programme was cancelled because the Soviets realised that continuing with a large American style orbiter was never going to make sense. There had been opposition to the programme from the moment it was started in 1977 and eventually the decision was taken to can it. The Orbiter only ever made one flight into orbit - in 1988.
A number of non spaceworthy test versions were made and it is these that have survived. The one that did get into space was destroyed when the hanger in which it was stored had the roof fall in due to an overload of snow. .
The Energia rocket was not built as a rival to the Saturn V. The Energia booster was designed after the moon landings had finished. In fact, Saturn V production had ceased as far back as 1968. Energia work only commenced in 1976.
The actual rocket that the Soviets built to compete with the Saturn V was the N1 booster - which failed on each occasion it was launched.
N1
The programme was cancelled because the Soviets realised that continuing with a large American style orbiter was never going to make sense. There had been opposition to the programme from the moment it was started in 1977 and eventually the decision was taken to can it. The Orbiter only ever made one flight into orbit - in 1988.
A number of non spaceworthy test versions were made and it is these that have survived. The one that did get into space was destroyed when the hanger in which it was stored had the roof fall in due to an overload of snow. .
The Energia rocket was not built as a rival to the Saturn V. The Energia booster was designed after the moon landings had finished. In fact, Saturn V production had ceased as far back as 1968. Energia work only commenced in 1976.
The actual rocket that the Soviets built to compete with the Saturn V was the N1 booster - which failed on each occasion it was launched.
N1
If you fancy getting closer to the source of good information you could look up
Russian Space Industry - Coordinated and edited the publication compiled by the late Dr. Maxim V. Tarasenko, and Ivan M. Moiseyev of the Russian Institute of Space Policy for the Federation of American Scientists.
Russian Rocket Engine Technology Briefings” - Huntsville, Alabama the 1980's, Red Star ‑ 2000 ( January 26-28, 1988) for aerospace Industry, NASA and U. S. Government agencies.
Just a thought here regarding something being found, these facilities were never open to the west and 'held in secret so in someways the notion of these items of being Lost and Found has meaning as they were Found by someone who would probably have never been given permission to visit them.
Russian Space Industry - Coordinated and edited the publication compiled by the late Dr. Maxim V. Tarasenko, and Ivan M. Moiseyev of the Russian Institute of Space Policy for the Federation of American Scientists.
Russian Rocket Engine Technology Briefings” - Huntsville, Alabama the 1980's, Red Star ‑ 2000 ( January 26-28, 1988) for aerospace Industry, NASA and U. S. Government agencies.
Just a thought here regarding something being found, these facilities were never open to the west and 'held in secret so in someways the notion of these items of being Lost and Found has meaning as they were Found by someone who would probably have never been given permission to visit them.
I read this book 30 odd years ago and it was the first really good insight into what the Soviets were up to
I also attended a lecture in 1982 on the Soviet space programme by Irish writer Brian Harvey which was very revealing. He's also written a number of books on Russian space efforts and is worth reading if you are interested in that type of things.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Harvey_(author...
I also attended a lecture in 1982 on the Soviet space programme by Irish writer Brian Harvey which was very revealing. He's also written a number of books on Russian space efforts and is worth reading if you are interested in that type of things.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Harvey_(author...
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