Energiya Buran (Russian Space Shuttle) Energy Rocket (Buran programme)

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The text describes the Soviet/Russian space shuttle program, specifically the Buran spacecraft, and compares it with NASA's Space Shuttle. The main points of comparison are: 1. **Propulsion**: Buran used four RD-170 liquid oxygen/kerosene engines and four RD-0120 liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen engines, while the Space Shuttle used three main engines that were part of the orbiter. 2. **Guidance and control system**: The core Energia rocket had its own guidance, navigation, and control system, unlike the Space Shuttle whose entire control system was in the orbiter. 3. **Boosters**: Each of Energia's four boosters had their own guidance, navigation, and control system, allowing them to be used as launch vehicles on their own. 4. **Payload capacity**: Buran could carry up to 30 metric tons into orbit, while the Space Shuttle could carry up to 27.8 metric tons in its early configuration. 5. **Reusability**: The Space Shuttle's boosters were recovered and reused, while Energia's boosters were not recovered during their two operational flights. 6. **Propellant system**: Buran used a GOX/LOX/Kerosene propellant system with lower toxicity and higher performance than the Space Shuttle's pressure-fed monomethylhydrazine/dinitrogen tetroxide OMS engines. 7. **Autonomous flight**: Buran was designed to be capable of both piloted and fully autonomous flight, including landing. 8. **Nose landing gear**: The nose landing gear on Buran was located farther back on the fuselage than on the Space Shuttle. 9. **Lift-to-drag ratio**: Buran had a higher lift-to-drag ratio (6.5) compared to the Space Shuttle's subsonic L/D of 4.5. 10. **Transportation and launch**: Buran was transported horizontally on a rail transporter, while the Space Shuttle was transported vertically on the crawler-transporter. Overall, the text highlights the similarities and differences between the Soviet/Russian space shuttle program (Buran) and NASA's Space Shuttle program.