| First launch of soviet Buran 1.01 spacecraft. November 15th, 1988 at 3:00 UTC, Baikonur Cosmodrome (Space Center), Launch Complex 37 left (110L), Site 110. It was lifted into orbit by Energia rocket. Full automated unmanned flight. Buran orbited the Earth twice in 206 minutes of flight. On its return, it performed an automated landing on the shuttle runway at Baikonur Cosmodrome (next user's vid). It was first and the only one flight of Energia-Buran program. The project was suspended due to lack of funds and the political situation in the Soviet Union. |