Delivery of the Buran shuttle to the cosmodrome at Baikonur in spare parts
1. From the departure of the construction factory of Tichiske the shuttle is prepared for shipment: it will be done by ground transport, maritime and air. The wings of a scale of 24m and which weigh is nearly 50 t are photographed on the special carriage transport which lead them towards the mooring especially set up at the Moskova's banks. The fuselage of Buran will be transported by road at the beginning. All along the route in the area of Tushinko close to Moscow, the streets underwent importantes modifications while being widened, the crossroads adjusted, lines of tram and bus deviated.
Preparation of the shuttle in the workshop
Transport of the shuttle on the platform through the streets of Moscow
Installation of the load on the lighter
Then the barge, which is equipped with ballasts (for the passage under the bridges of Moskova), delivers its cargo to the aerodrome of Moscow. For all the period of the transport from the factory to the aerodrome, the shuttle is hidden under a cover which the form will change (to keep secrets on the project).
Routing of Buran on Moskova in the center of Moscow
Obstruction of the convoy
Transport of the loading at the aerodrome of Moscow
2. At the aerodrome thanks to the crane (lifting system ПКУ-50) the shuttle is assembled on carrier aircraft VM-T "Atlant" (ВМ-Т "Атлант"). This plane was initially a long distance bomber which had the necessary design features and allowed a takeoff and a landing of high degree of accuracy. For its new function it has to undergo modification: the fuselage was lengthened and reinforced, then the vertical stabilizer was replaced by a double drift because the shuttle was too large and hide it, finally 3 shuttle hangs points were added.
Positioning on the transport plane
Takeoff of the unit
Flight
After the trial flights with shuttle models, the transport plane delivered at Baikonur, the true Buran shuttle.
3. After the end of the construction of the largest plane in the world Antonov 255 "Мрия" ("Dream"), all the air transport operations were dedicated to it.
4. Works of unloading, handling and transport on the cosmodrome at Baikonur.
Unloading Buran from the transport plane by the crane ПУА-100, on the aerodrome at Baikonur
Transport towards the hangar
Entry of Buran in the hangar
The transport of the shuttle between the hangar of tests, the tests structures, the site of Energia, the site of the Buran-Energia couple and the landing strip is made by asphalted roads and towed by 2 special trucks and a trailer whose load capacity is 100 t. In spite of its big length the trailer has a good manoeuvrability.
The loading of Buran on the trailer is carried out thanks to the crane ПУА-100. This is a unique electro-hydro-mechanics system having a broad range of technical possibilities, in spite of the considerable loads. ПУА-100 ensures the unloading of various loads delivered to the cosmodrome by the transport aircraft such as the Telamon or the An-225 "Mriya".
Unloading Buran from the plane An-225 "Mriya" by the crane ПУА-100
Unloading Buran from the plane An-225 "Mriya" by the crane ПУА-100
The transport of the Buran-Energia couple from the technical hangar to the launch pad is achieved by a special conveyor tractor towed by 4 Diesel locomotives. It was used for the transport of the gigantic luna rocket N-1 in the 60-70 years.
