Russia's Buran

[KSCessnaDriver]

I think it is funny that all the Buran fan boys around the internet (not talking about here) try to play down the visual similarities between it and the STS. Yeah the motor arrangement is different, but aside from that.....come on......they are practically identical looking.....

Form follows function. That said, anyone would be a fool to say the Soviets didn't copy the STS to some extent. Why do your own R&D when you can request if for free from America?

As for it being more technologically advanced because of an autonomous landing capability, not sure where that comes from; even the original STS was capable of such a thing, if only there had been a way to lower the gear remotely prior to the Columbia mishap.

I don't know that I'd say it was more advanced, but the fact that the Soviets did a fully automated landing 20 years prior to NASA/USAF doing it says something about technology.

 

[BobDDuck]

MW2 Black Ops?

It's built using the MW2 engine. I know it's a COD game, but... ya know?

 

[Tram]

It's built using the MW2 engine. I know it's a COD game, but... ya know?

Just ribbing you.. If you are on XBOX pm me your gamertag.

 

[///AMG]

Form follows function. That said, anyone would be a fool to say the Soviets didn't copy the STS to some extent. Why do your own R&D when you can request if for free from America?

Very true.....they have probably saved enormous amounts of money over the past 60 years by sticking to this R&D model.

I don't know that I'd say it was more advanced, but the fact that the Soviets did a fully automated landing 20 years prior to NASA/USAF doing it says something about technology.

Different mindsets I'd say. The capability was there on STS-1, they just didn't add the circuitry to allow for remotely getting the gear down. The US space program has always been more about pilots actually flying (or at least pretending to) than the Russians I'd say

 

[BobDDuck]

Just ribbing you.. If you are on XBOX pm me your gamertag.

I am... and it's the same as here. I just am not on all that much anymore. I actually got a buildup line for February (for the first time since I upgraded 3 years ago) so I may be online a bit more in Feb.

 

[Tram]

Werd.. I'll add ya..