# Buran

> first and only operational spaceplane in the Soviet Buran programme

**Wikidata**: [Q2548](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2548)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buran_(spacecraft))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/buran

## Summary
Buran was the first and only operational spaceplane developed within the Soviet Buran programme. Designed as a reusable spacecraft component of the Energia-Buran vehicle, this Buran-class orbiter was developed by NPO Molniya and manufactured by the Tushino Machine-Building Plant. The vehicle, which is now a former entity having been destroyed, completed its maiden flight in 1988 and was named after a type of windstorm in Asia.

## Key Facts
- **First Flight:** Occurred on November 15, 1988, at 03:00:01 under the mission designation 1K1.
- **Orbits Completed:** Successfully completed 2 orbits during its operational life.
- **Status:** Classified as a former entity that was demolished or destroyed; destruction occurred on May 12, 2002.
- **Developer:** Created by NPO Molniya, a Russian scientific and production enterprise established in 1976.
- **Manufacturer:** Built by the Tushino Machine-Building Plant.
- **Construction Timeline:** Construction spanned from 1980 until October 15, 1987.
- **Country of Origin:** Soviet Union.
- **Serial Number:** 1К.
- **Naming:** Named after the "buran," a type of wind or windstorm found in Asia.
- **Classification:** Instance of a Buran-class orbiter.
- **Native Label:** Буран.
- **Coordinates:** Located at approximately 45.92749190335271 latitude and 63.29749089687559 longitude as of circa 1989.
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** Entity["Satellite", "19637"].
- **Sitelink Count:** 50.

## FAQs
**What was the Buran spacecraft?**
Buran was the first and only operational spaceplane in the Soviet Buran programme, serving as the reusable spacecraft component of the Energia-Buran vehicle.

**Who developed and built the Buran?**
The spacecraft was developed by NPO Molniya and manufactured by the Tushino Machine-Building Plant.

**When did Buran fly and what did it accomplish?**
Its maiden flight took place on November 15, 1988, during which it completed 2 orbits around the Earth.

**What happened to the Buran orbiter?**
The orbiter was destroyed on May 12, 2002, and is now classified as a former entity that was demolished or destroyed.

**Why is it called Buran?**
The spacecraft is named after the "buran," which is a type of wind or windstorm common in Asia.

## Why It Matters
Buran represents the culmination of the Soviet Union's efforts in reusable spaceflight technology, standing as the sole operational vehicle of the Buran programme. As a Buran-class orbiter, it served as the Soviet counterpart to similar reusable spacecraft concepts, demonstrating the capability to launch, orbit, and return via the Energia-Buran vehicle system. Its development by NPO Molniya and successful flight in 1988 marked a significant, albeit brief, technological milestone for the Soviet space industry. The vehicle's eventual destruction in 2002 marked the physical end of this specific era of Soviet aerospace engineering, though its legacy persists through extensive documentation and historical records.

## Notable For
- Being the first and only operational spaceplane in the Soviet Buran programme.
- Completing its maiden flight on November 15, 1988, at precisely 03:00:01.
- Completing exactly 2 orbits during its mission history.
- Being named after a specific meteorological phenomenon, the "buran" windstorm.
- Undergoing construction from 1980 until completion on October 15, 1987.
- Possessing a serial number of 1К.
- Being documented across 50 different sitelinks and numerous international encyclopedias.
- Having a specific image captured on June 12, 1989, while atop an An-225 aircraft.

## Body

### Overview and Classification
Buran is a Buran-class orbiter, functioning as the reusable spacecraft component of the Energia-Buran vehicle. It is defined as a former entity, having been demolished or destroyed. The native label for the spacecraft is Буран. It is part of the broader Buran programme, a Soviet reusable spaceplane initiative. The entity is also classified under the instance of "former entity" with a specific status indicating it was "demolished or destroyed."

### Development and Manufacturing
The development of Buran was led by NPO Molniya, a Russian scientific and production enterprise founded on February 26, 1976. The manufacturing process was carried out by the Tushino Machine-Building Plant. The country of origin for the project was the Soviet Union, a former country in Eurasia that existed from 1922 to 1991.

### Operational History
The timeline of Buran's existence includes significant events such as construction, maiden flight, and destruction.
*   **Construction:** The construction phase began in 1980 and concluded on October 15, 1987.
*   **Maiden Flight:** The first and only operational flight occurred on November 15, 1988. This mission, designated 1K1, launched at 03:00:01 and resulted in 2 completed orbits.
*   **Destruction:** The spacecraft was destroyed on May 12, 2002.

### Physical Characteristics and Naming
Buran was named after the "buran," a type of wind or windstorm in Asia. The serial number assigned to the orbiter was 1К. Coordinates associated with the entity circa 1989 place it at latitude 45.92749190335271 and longitude 63.29749089687559.

### Data and Identifiers
Buran is documented across numerous databases and information systems, reflecting its historical significance.
*   **Identifiers:**
    *   KBpedia ID: SpaceShuttleBURAN
    *   Freebase ID: /m/0f708n
    *   Wolfram Language Entity Code: Entity["Satellite", "19637"]
    *   YLE Topic ID: 18-263699
    *   Quora Topic: Buran-spacecraft
*   **Encyclopedia References:**
    *   Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID: topic/Buran-Russian-spacecraft
    *   Great Russian Encyclopedia Online ID (2017): 1888732
    *   Encyclopedia of China (Third Edition) ID: 404896, 184897
    *   Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID: buran-0 (former scheme: 0246296)
*   **Web Presence:**
    *   Wikipedia Title: Buran (spacecraft)
    *   Commons Category: Buran (spacecraft)
    *   Sitelink Count: 50
    *   Wikipedia Languages: ar, az, bg, ca, commons, cs, cv, da, de, el, en, eo, es, et, eu, fa, fi, fr, gl, he, hi, hr, hu, id, it, ja, ko, lt, lv, ml, ms, nl, no, pl, pt, ro, ru, sh, simple, sk, sl, sr, sv, ta, te, th, tr, uk, zh, zh_yue
*   **Media:**
    *   An image of the spacecraft on an An-225 aircraft is available from June 12, 1989.
    *   A schematic diagram is available under the filename 04_OK-1.01.png.
    *   A descriptive video titled "Buran: The Most Impressive Thing the Soviets Ever Built" is available on YouTube.

### Aliases
The entity is known by several aliases, including Space Shuttle Buran, OK-1K, Orbiter 1K, OK-1.01, 1.01, transbordador Buran, ブラン 1.01, and 暴風雪號穿梭機.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.buran.ru/htm/pilots.htm)
2. [Source](http://www.buran.ru/htm/flight.htm)
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Source](http://www.russianspaceweb.com/buran.html)
6. [Source](https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/11/remembering-buran-shuttles-estranged-soviet-cousin/)
7. KBpedia