Go Buran!

[Caid Ivik]

Valentin Belakin from russian space academy is calling for returning finances to conserved projects of Buran shuttle and Energija large rocket. What do you think about it? Would be Buran able to replace Columbia?

[Dunenewt]

The Buran was quite unreliable and is quite old aswell. The shuttle is fine though they just shouldnt be so careless.

What we need is a next generation craft

[Caid Ivik]

So, I don't know state of Enterprise... ;D

[Dunenewt]

Is the Enerija the rocket that launches it?

[Caid Ivik]

Energija was first ment to get Zond (russian equivalent to Apollo, some prototypes were flewn) on Moon. It carries much more (three times) than classic Vostok class, used for Sojuz and Progress ships. Main parts of ISS assembly were carried by NASA shuttles, and Energija might be able to deliver such cargo. Now, when Columbia is down forever, Discovery and Atlantis are still being repaired and Endeavour won't be ready until summer, work on ISS will stagnate. Development of Buran and Energija was stopped when USSR splitted in good progress, so it wouldn't be hard and long to complete them. Also, unmanned rocket is safer, altough dearer, than a space shuttle.