Jetmanman (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

The Buran is a top of the Soviet technologies, the best that could be made. American Space Shuttle absolutely differs, except appearance. The Buran is much more perfect (automatic flight, a catapult, a carrier rocket energy, One attempt for landing approach, emergency branch from a carrier rocket).

SomeDumbYankee (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

The Buran isn't really monumentally different from the orbiter, and it doesn't have decades of operational experience backing it up.Buran would have all of the shuttle's issues, as well as the issues the shuttle program has already solved.It's not a viable alternative.

SomeDumbYankee (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

JS Bach, "Toccata and fugue in D minor"

vukosavljeva (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

boring

hgykyggbhy (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

what music is this

A86 (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

Sorry, I'm looking at NASA's site right now and they're saying it's 2011. That's a conservative best-scenario estimate assuming all the modules are completed on time and all shuttle repairs and preparation occurs on time with no flight delays and no bad weather or other setbacks. That's not likely to happen given the history of poor international coordination and the list of last-minute problems with the modules and spacecraft that take months to fix.Congress will still cut funding in 2010.

FORZION (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

no it is 2010 that is why they are retiring the shuttle in 2010. they do not need a new shuttle type vehicle because once the ISS is complete the shuttle will retire. The ISS has to be complete by 2010 because congress will cut its funding then.

A86 (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

"Soyuz can and has helped build the ISS."It has shuttled a few parts to the ISS and acts as a space taxi shuttling crews back and forth. The American space shuttle has lifted most of the modules into orbit. Especially the solar panels and the robot arm, which the Soyuz capsule can't take into space or assemble. A shuttle-type vehicle is needed for a couple of modules left and the second ISS robotic arm. From what I read the earliest ISS completion date is 2011. Parts are being delayed.

jpcorba (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

nice machine, so sorry it was not continuing.buran & energia rocket

FORZION (December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm)

Soyuz can and has helped build the ISS. It built Mir, and it built the ISS when the Shuttle was grounded. You don't need a space shuttle to "place the rest of the solar panels on" I mean how did Mir get built? You need to read up on space vehicles before coming here and trying to make up stuff. If they did need a shuttle it would be cheaper to just refit the US shuttles which are mission ready and not one thats never been in space. The ISS completion date is 2010 so they dont need a new shuttle.