# Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-105

> proposed Russian spaceplane

**Wikidata**: [Q1422375](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1422375)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-105)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mikoyan-gurevich-mig-105

## Summary
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-105 was a Soviet proposed spaceplane project initiated in 1965. It was designed as a reusable spacecraft capable of horizontal takeoff and landing, though only one prototype was ever built and flown in 1976.

## Key Facts
- Inception year: 1965
- First flight: October 11, 1976
- Total produced: 1 prototype
- Developer and manufacturer: Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Status: Abandoned project
- Instance of: Spaceplane
- Wikipedia title: Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-105
- Wikimedia sitelink count: 23
- Aliases: MiG-105, МиГ-105

### Q: What was the MiG-105 designed to be?
A: The MiG-105 was designed as a reusable spaceplane capable of horizontal takeoff and landing, intended to serve as a Soviet response to the American space shuttle program.

### Q: How many MiG-105 aircraft were built?
A: Only one prototype of the MiG-105 was ever built and flown, making it a unique experimental aircraft in Soviet aerospace history.

### Q: When did the MiG-105 first fly?
A: The MiG-105 made its first and only flight on October 11, 1976, as part of its testing program.

## Why It Matters
The MiG-105 represents a significant chapter in Soviet aerospace development during the Cold War space race. As one of the earliest attempts at creating a reusable spaceplane, it demonstrated the Soviet Union's parallel efforts to develop space transportation systems similar to those being pursued in the United States. Though the project was ultimately abandoned, the research and development contributed to Soviet understanding of spaceplane technology and aerodynamics. The MiG-105's development occurred during a critical period when both superpowers were exploring various approaches to space access, and its existence highlights the breadth of experimental aerospace projects undertaken during this era. The project's abandonment also reflects the changing priorities and resource constraints that affected space programs in both nations during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

## Notable For
- Being the Soviet Union's primary response to American space shuttle development
- Featuring a unique air-breathing engine design for spaceplane applications
- Representing one of the few horizontal takeoff and landing spaceplane concepts pursued by the USSR
- Serving as a testbed for Soviet reusable spacecraft technologies
- Demonstrating Soviet capabilities in advanced aerospace engineering during the Cold War

## Body
### Development History
The MiG-105 project began in 1965 as part of the Soviet Union's efforts to develop reusable space transportation systems. The program was initiated by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau, which had extensive experience in military aircraft development.

### Technical Specifications
The spaceplane was designed with a delta wing configuration and incorporated features for both atmospheric flight and orbital operations. Its development represented a significant engineering challenge in combining aircraft-like flight characteristics with spacecraft capabilities.

### Testing Program
The single prototype underwent limited flight testing, with its first flight occurring on October 11, 1976. These test flights were conducted to evaluate the vehicle's handling characteristics and performance envelope, though the program never progressed to orbital flight testing.

### Program Status
Despite initial development efforts, the MiG-105 program was ultimately classified as abandoned. This decision came as the Soviet space program shifted focus to other priorities, including the Buran space shuttle program which would follow a different technical approach.

### Legacy
While the MiG-105 never entered operational service, its development contributed to Soviet aerospace knowledge and experience in spaceplane technologies. The project remains an important example of alternative approaches to space access that were explored during the Cold War era.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013