Eerie photos show abandoned Soviet space shuttle left to gather dust in enormous rusting hangar

May 2024 · 4 minute read

In the 1980s, a little-known chapter in the space race took place when the Soviet Union attempted to build their own version of Nasa’s Space Shuttle.

But despite a successful unmanned orbital test flight the Buran vehicles were soon scrapped amid rising budget cuts and left to rot in hangars.

One of the Soviet shuttles was destroyed when its hangar collapsed in 2002, but two other models remain intact and have been pictured in a stunning series of photographs by Sergei Savostyanov as part of a visit to the complex by the Sergei Krikalev, director of manned space programmes for Russian space agency Roscosmos.

The photographs reveal a large hangar – once a hub of activity but now left derelict – located near to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan – which is still used to launch Soyuz rockets today.

At the base of the hangar are two unused Buran shuttles, named Burya and OK-MT. 

Their similarity in appearance to Nasa’s Space Shuttles is not accidental – at the time, this was deemed to be the best way to create a vehicle that could travel to and from orbit, although some have also suggested espionage was at play.

The Buran shuttle was intended to be launched on the huge Energia booster, similar to the giant booster rockets used by the Space Shuttle orbiters.

Like the Space Shuttles, the Buran vehicles had engines located at the back, and two wings for a controlled landing back on Earth.

Photographers have captured the Soviet Buran space shuttle at an abandoned hangar near the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan

Photographers have captured the Soviet Buran space shuttle at an abandoned hangar near the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan 

The Buran shuttle was intended to be launched on the huge Energia booster, similar to the giant booster rockets used by the Space Shuttle orbiters

The Buran shuttle was intended to be launched on the huge Energia booster, similar to the giant booster rockets used by the Space Shuttle orbiters

Development of the programme began in 1976, with the reusable spacecraft (although the booster was not) capable of performing operations in orbit before returning to Earth

Development of the programme began in 1976, with the reusable spacecraft (although the booster was not) capable of performing operations in orbit before returning to Earth

These two shuttles in particular were simply left in the MKZ building at Baikonur Cosmodrome, with their basic structure still intact

These two shuttles in particular were simply left in the MKZ building at Baikonur Cosmodrome, with their basic structure still intact

Buran was launched on the Energia rocket carrier from Baikonur Cosmodrome on November 15, 1988, made two circles around the Earth orbit and landed at the Yubileiny airfield at Baikonur Cosmodrome

Buran was launched on the Energia rocket carrier from Baikonur Cosmodrome on November 15, 1988, made two circles around the Earth orbit and landed at the Yubileiny airfield at Baikonur Cosmodrome

A mock-up of the Buran Soviet/Russian reusable space shuttle at an assembling and refueling complex at Baikonur Cosmodrome

A mock-up of the Buran Soviet/Russian reusable space shuttle at an assembling and refueling complex at Baikonur Cosmodrome

The haunting pictures show giant pieces of rusting machinery including this hulking installation platform

The haunting pictures show giant pieces of rusting machinery including this hulking installation platform

Stunning aerial shots show two installation platforms left to gather rust at Baikonur Cosmodrome

Stunning aerial shots show two installation platforms left to gather rust at Baikonur Cosmodrome

Development of the programme began in 1976, with the reusable spacecraft (although the booster was not) capable of performing operations in orbit before returning to Earth.

But after the one unmanned spaceflight in 1988, the programme was scrapped following the dissolution of the USSR in 1993.

This was despite several other models and test vehicles being built, some of which reside in museums today.

But these two shuttles in particular were simply left in the MKZ building at Baikonur Cosmodrome, with their basic structure still intact.

Engines at the front of the shuttle would have been used to help it maneuvre in orbit.  

The eerie photographs show how USSR-era space craft have been left to rust in an abandoned desert hangar in Kazakhstan

The eerie photographs show how USSR-era space craft have been left to rust in an abandoned desert hangar in Kazakhstan

The test shuttle is inside a derelict Soviet warehouse near the Cosmodrome Baikonur, 125 miles east of the Aral Sea

The test shuttle is inside a derelict Soviet warehouse near the Cosmodrome Baikonur, 125 miles east of the Aral Sea

The Energia-Buran system launch facility for the Buran Soviet/Russian reusable space shuttle at Baikonur Cosmodrome

The Energia-Buran system launch facility for the Buran Soviet/Russian reusable space shuttle at Baikonur Cosmodrome

Similarly to the Nasa space shuttles, the Soviet Buran shuttle was reliant on massive boosters in order to leave Earth's atmosphere

Similarly to the Nasa space shuttles, the Soviet Buran shuttle was reliant on massive boosters in order to leave Earth’s atmosphere

Looking inside the shuttles, Mr Mirebs found that the interiors were missing some equipment, but otherwise still have their pilot seats, computer screens and more.

The shuttles also have a cargo area similar to Nasa’s Space Shuttles, where two large doors would have opened to release satellites into space or repair objects in orbit.

However, the shuttles appear to be full of junk and rubbish, while their exteriors do not look much better. 

Despite the derelict nature of the hangar, though, the photographer says that he thinks that the programme had a ‘beneficial effect on the scientific and technical progress.’

He added: ‘Yes, most of them did not go beyond the drawings and models, but the ones that leaked through the sieve test and commissions received unlimited support.’

The operations and checkout facility where the Buran Soviet/Russian reusable space shuttle was destroyed. The hangar roof on the right hand side can be seen to have collapsed

The operations and checkout facility where the Buran Soviet/Russian reusable space shuttle was destroyed. The hangar roof on the right hand side can be seen to have collapsed

Installation platforms for the Buran Soviet/Russian reusable space shuttle at Baikonur Cosmodrome

Installation platforms for the Buran Soviet/Russian reusable space shuttle at Baikonur Cosmodrome

Pictured: The huge hangar doors of the abandoned operations and checkout facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome site in Kazakhstan

Pictured: The huge hangar doors of the abandoned operations and checkout facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome site in Kazakhstan

Roscosmos Executive Director for Manned Space Programmes Sergei Krikalev visited the Energia-Buran launch site

Roscosmos Executive Director for Manned Space Programmes Sergei Krikalev visited the Energia-Buran launch site

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