Buran (Russian for "snowstorm") was the Soviet Union’s reusable space shuttle orbiter, developed as a direct response to NASA’s Space Transportation System. While visually similar to the American shuttle, Buran featured significant engineering differences: its main engines were located on the expendable Energia launch vehicle rather than the orbiter itself, allowing for a lighter, simpler spacecraft structure.
The program’s sole orbital mission occurred on November 15, 1988, when Buran completed an uncrewed, fully automated flight. It orbited Earth twice in 206 minutes and executed a precision automated landing, touching down within 3 meters laterally and 10 meters longitudinally of the target runway despite strong crosswinds. This made Buran the first spaceplane to perform a fully automated orbital flight and landing. GLB/OBJ files are attached for rendering/simulation projects. Original Space Shuttle Buran model by Pinnick (https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/user/0828671731012839993037650/Pinnick)
