Spiral 50-50 (original) (raw)

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Spiral 50-50

Spiral 50-50
Credit: © Mark Wade

Russian winged orbital launch vehicle. The Soviet Air Force had an enduring interest in a horizontal takeoff/horizontal landing, manned, reusable space launch system that could ferry crews and priority supplies between earth and space on the same basis as conventional aircraft. Between 1960 and 1976 Mikoyan developed this manned partially reusable space launch system. It consisted of a reusable hypersonic air-breathing booster; two expendable rocket stages; and the reusable Spiral manned spaceplane. The effort was never properly funded by the government, and by the mid-1970's had only reached the stage of flight tests of subscale versions of Spiral. Development was discontinued in 1976 in favor of the Buran, a copy of the US space shuttle. However it was resurrected in improved form in the 1980's as the MAKS spaceplane.

AKA: EPOS. Status: Cancelled 1975. Gross mass: 115,000 kg (253,000 lb).

Mikoyan GKAT OKB-155 began work in 1960 on the Spiral combination aerospace system. In 1965 the advanced project was approved, laying out an ambitious work plan leading to operation of a regular earth-orbit-earth reusable transportation system by the mid-1970's. Go-ahead to actually proceed with development of the manned orbital vehicle was given on 26 June 1966 and Lozino-Lozinsky was selected as project manager.

The Spiral system consisted of three main components:

GSR reusable hypersonic air-breathing launch aircraft
RB expendable two stage rocket
OS orbital spaceplane The project plan for Spiral was as follows:
1967 - Subsonic test flight of OS (article 105-11)
1968 - Hypersonic test flight of OS (article 105-12)
1970 - Unpiloted orbital flight of OS (Soyuz-launched - article 105-13)
1970 - Construction of GSR to begin
1972 - First rollout of LH2-propelled experimental GSR
1977 - First piloted orbital flight of complete system Interest in the project at higher levels of the Soviet hierarchy was difficult to maintain, due to the massive funding requirements, technical difficulties, and multi-year development program which could not promise quick results. Underfunded from the beginning, the project was finally reoriented to a simple test of the analogue systems without using these as the basis for a flight system. This was now designated EPOS (Experimental Piloted Orbital Aircraft) and would be flown by Soviet Air Force test pilots rather than cosmonauts. In February 1976, with the beginning of work on Buran, the project was effectively ended except for the test of the subsonic 105-11 article already built. The 105-11 incorporated the airframe and some of the systems of the planned orbital version.

Technical Description

The GSR reusable hypersonic air-breathing launch aircraft was powered by four turbo-ramjet engines, and two variants were planned. The conservative first variant would use kerosene fuel and accelerate to Mach 4 and 22 to 24 km altitude before releasing the RB+OS. The longer-term second variant would use liquid hydrogen fuel, which would allow it to reach Mach 6 and 28-30 km altitude before releasing the upper stages. The GSR would return to its launch base after completing its mission.

The layout of the GSR was that of a large arrow-shaped flying wing. Vertical stabilizers were mounted at the wingtips. The engine bay was under the fuselage, with high bypass engine inlets. On the top of the wing was the launch pylon for the OS+RB, with the nose and tail portions of the pylon enclosed by ogival fairings for aerodynamic reasons.

The RB rocket that would take the OS from the back of the GSR to orbit consisted of a two-stage rocket. The conservative early version would use Liquid oxygen/kerosene propellants; the later advanced version would use Liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen.

The OS orbital spacecraft was a flat-bottomed lifting body, triangular in planform, with a large upturned nose that earned it the nickname 'Lapot' (wooden shoe). A unique feature of the OS were the variable dihedral wings. These were set at a 60 degree angle above horizontal during launch, orbit, and re-entry, where they served as vertical stabilizers. After becoming subsonic, dual electric actuators moved them to a horizontal position, where they served as wings, substantially increasing the lift of the spaceplane for air-breathing operations.

The OS would be inserted into an initial 130 km altitude orbit by the RB, where only 2 to 3 revolutions could be maintained before orbital decay. Orbital propulsion consisted of a 1,500 kgf primary engine, with two 40 kgf backup engines. Orbital attitude control and translation were provided by two reaction control system (GDU) pods at the rear of the spaceplane flanking the backup engines. There were a total of six 16 kgf engines for coarse adjustment and ten 1 kgf engines for fine maneuvers. Fuel tanks for these system were located in the center of the spaceplane. All engines worked on N2O4/UDMH. After completing its mission the OS would enter the earth's atmosphere at a high angle of attack. After losing most of its velocity, the wings would have been moved to the horizontal lifting position, and the OS would fly to a landing at a conventional airfield.

During the development phase three single-place experimental reusable prototypes of the OS would be built. These would be built in the same configuration as the Spiral OS, but have somewhat smaller dimensions, so that they could be orbited by a Soyuz launch vehicle. For testing the OS in the subsonic terminal approach phase, aircraft-analogues were to be built, powered by a turbojet or rocket and air-launched from a Tu-95 bomber. Two were planned, one to be flown subsonic (article 105-11), and the other up to Mach 6 to 8 (article 105-12). The single reusable orbital manned prototype was designated article 105-13.

An important characteristic of the Spiral was its large usable payload, two to three times greater than that of a conventional launch vehicle of the same mass. Cost per kilogram of payload to orbit would be 3 to 3.5 times less. In addition the system, by using air launch, could reach any orbital inclination, maneuver in space, and return, even in adverse weather conditions.

Subtopics

	Spiral OS Russian manned spaceplane, developed 1965-1980s, including subscale flight article tests. Evolved into the MAKS spaceplane. The Spiral was an ambitious air-launched manned space system designed in the 1960's.

	MiG 105-11 Russian manned spaceplane. 8 launches, 1976.10.11 to 1978.09.15 . Atmospheric flight test version of the Spiral OS manned spaceplane. The 105-11 incorporated the airframe and some of the systems of the planned orbital version.

	BOR-4 Russian spaceplane. BOR-4 were subscale test versions of the Spiral manned spaceplanes. Built by Molniya, Russia. Launched 1982 - 1984.

	Uragan Space Interceptor Russian manned combat spacecraft. Russian sources continue to maintain that the Uragan manned spaceplane project never existed.

Family: aircraft-launched, orbital launch vehicle, Winged. Country: Russia. Spacecraft: Spiral OS, MiG 105-11. Agency: MiG. Bibliography: 197, 301, 376, 458, 474, 81, 83.

1962 January 13 - . Launch Vehicle: Spiral 50-50.

VVS Military-Scientific Conference at Monino - . Nation: Russia. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Spiral OS.
Recommendations made by Kamanin's space unit included:
- A KLA aerospace vehicle should be developed. This could be flown in a sub-orbital version at altitudes of 60 to 150 km and as an orbital aero-spaceplane at altitudes of 1000 to 3000 km.
- An aircraft-launcher should be developed to allow air-launch of the KLA as well as air-to-space and space-to-earth missiles
- Navigation, reconnaissance, guidance, and environmental control systems should be developed for the KLA suitable for flights of up to 30 days duration
  To achieve this it will be necessary to conduct research and development in air-launch and landing of the KLA, and train cosmonauts in engineering, medicine, and other specialties. The IAKM and TsPK would both need improvements.

1965 January 1 - . Launch Vehicle: Spiral 50-50.

Spiral development at MiG bureau authorised. - . Nation: Russia. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: MiG 105-11. Decree 'On plan of work on Spiral at OKB-155' was issued..

1965 June 1 - .

Beginning of Project Spiral - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Chelomei, Korolev. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: MiG 105-11.
With the cancellation of Chelomei's desultory R spaceplane development, the job is handed to 'the profis' - the fighter design bureaus of MiG and Sukhoi. Both would use an air breathing first stage (the XB-70 clone T-4 in Sukhoi's case, a huge new Tupolev hypersonic aircraft 'to be developed' in MiG's case). Second stage would be a conventional expendable rocket stage which would carry the relatively small Spiral spaceplane into orbit. Korolev had been doing some 'back door' work with MiG in competition to Chelomei's R project for some time (Began with 1962 Mikoyan study '50-50': Hypersonic first stage to Mach 5.5; rocket stage with one man), and immediately proposed tests from atop R-7 rockets as early as 1967. At the time all this was begun Dyna Soar was still an active US program.

1965 July - . Launch Vehicle: Spiral 50-50.

Spiral cosmonaut team formed - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Dobrovolsky, Filipchenko, Kuklin, Matinchenko, Titov. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Spiral OS.
In 1965 the advanced project of the Mikoyan Spiral aerospace system was approved. The ambitious work plan indicted operation of a regular earth-orbit-earth reusable transportation system by the mid-1970's. With Gherman Titov as its head, a Spiral cosmonaut training group was formed (Titov, Dobrovolskiy, Filipchenko, Kuklin, Matinchenko) to train to fly the spaceplane.

1965 September 2 - . Launch Vehicle: Spiral 50-50.

Spiral cosmonaut team changes - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Beregovoi, Filipchenko, Kuklin, Shatalov, Titov. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Spiral OS. The was team now consisted of Titov, Beregovoy, Filipchenko, Kuklin, and Shatalov..

1965 November 23 - . Launch Vehicle: Spiral 50-50.

Spiral spaceplane - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Belyayev, Brezhnev, Filipchenko, Gagarin, Leonov, Matinchenko, Mikoyan, Titov. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Spiral OS.
Gagarin, Belyayev, and Leonov are preparing for a meeting with Brezhnev. Nothing controversial is to be raised. The real issue now is to develop a winged, manned orbital spacecraft, and a winged booster stage for space launches. This will be essential to future manned military activities. Mikoyan's MiG bureau has been working on the orbital spaceplane, and Tupolev the winged booster stage. Titov, Filipchenko, and Matinchenko and a few other cosmonauts will coordinate with Mikoyan on development of the spaceplane design.

1966 February 1 - .

Titov and Spiral - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Titov. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Spiral OS.
Titov has really turned himself around. Since being assigned to the Spiral spaceplane project, he has become newly motivated and involved with the project. He has obtained training on the MiG-21, with 120 flight hours per year required in support of the programme. All of this in parallel with academic studies at the Zhukovskiy Academy.

1966 April 29 - .

Cosmonaut travels - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Leonov, Popovich, Tereshkova, Titov. Program: Soyuz. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Spiral OS.
Kamanin plans to make Popovich and Titov deputy commanders of cosmonaut detachments preparing for flight of the Soyuz 7K-OK and Spiral spaceplane. Leonov is back from a tour of France; Titov is preparing to go to Afghanistan, and Tereshkova to Armenia. But that night Titov does not come home - he is hanging out again with artists and other unacceptable types.

1966 June 26 - . Launch Vehicle: Spiral 50-50.

Development of Spiral spaceplane authorised - . Nation: Russia. Spacecraft: MiG 105-11, Spiral OS. Lozino-Lozinsky was selected as project manager. The Spiral system consisted of three main components: the GSR reusable hypersonic air-breathing launch aircraft; RB expendable two stage rocket; and the OS orbital spaceplane..

1967 June - .

Original planned date for first Spiral subsonic tests - . Nation: Russia. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: MiG 105-11. This would actually not occur until ten years later..

1967 December - . Launch Vehicle: Spiral 50-50.

New Spiral cosmonaut team - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Kizim, Kozelsky, Lyakhov, Malyshev, Petrushenko, Titov. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Spiral OS. A new cosmonaut training group for the Spiral spaceplane was established: Titov, Kizim, Kozelskiy, Lyakhov, Malyshev, Petrushenko..

1968 December 12 - . Launch Vehicle: Spiral 50-50.

Kamanin catalogues the reasons the Soviet Union is losing the moon race - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Biryuzov, Ustinov. Program: Lunar L1, Lunar L3. Spacecraft: LK, Soyuz 7K-L1, Soyuz 7K-LOK.
- Fighting between the VVS and its 'enemies' (Ustinov etc.)
- No single state organisation is responsible for civilian spaceflight.
- Various entities are responsible for various aspects of military spaceflight (RSVN, VMF, General Staff, VVS). Kamanin notes that the state has poured 10 billion roubles into the N1 without visible effect. He believes reusable systems are needed to reduce the cost of spaceflight. The death of General Biryuzov in a plane crash meant that the Soviet Union lost a strong supporter of a robust military space program.
- Kamanin believes the VVS should be in charge of piloted spacecraft, not the RVSN.
- Furthermore the entire design approach to manned spacecraft is incorrect -- what is needed is piloted spacecraft, not cosmonauts flying as passengers in automated spacecraft. The result of the automated philosophy was that the Soyuz was not man-rated until 1968. While the qualification process was going on, the American Gemini flew ten times. The Apollo-Saturn V has flown twice, while the L3 was still just a mock-up. In effect, the Soviet Union gave the Americans a two to three year lead, allowing them to beat the Russians.

1969 June 30 - .

Spiral project cancelled - . Nation: Russia. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: MiG 105-11. No competing US project any more, huge obstacles in getting Tu-144 SST to fly at Mach 2 sustained let alone Mach 4 sustained for Tupolev's Spiral first stage..

1970 April 7 - . Launch Vehicle: Spiral 50-50.

Spiral spaceplane programme stalled - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Afanasyev, Sergei, Dementiev, Frolov, Goreglyad, Kutakhov, Mikoyan, Titov. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Spiral OS.
Kamanin reviews the Spiral manned spaceplane program with Goreglyad, Frolov, and cosmonaut Titov. Work on the KLA orbiter began in 1961-1962. In the following eight years Kamanin has tried to push the leadership many times to accelerate the project, but without result. Still, the work is proceeding, albeit very slowly. Mikoyan has decided the first phase of the project will use rocket launch only - the air-breathing winged first stage will only be introduced later. Afanasyev has finally responded to the project, only to declare that the KLA must be not only for military missions, but serve as a transport shuttle for civilian space missions as well. Dementiev is holding the whole project up because he doesn't want to overburden the aircraft design bureaux and factories. And Kutakhov won't push the program without Dementiev's support.

1970 April 25 - . Launch Vehicle: Spiral 50-50.

Spiral project not raised with General Staff. - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Dementiev. Program: Soyuz. Flight: Soyuz 9. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Spiral OS.
Kamanin has been working for seven years on operation and improvement of the TsEZ Central Experimental Facility of he VVS. This includes the Volchok trainer, which simulates launch to orbit; the centrifuge facility; and numerous special test stands. The facility employs 120 engineers and 300 technicians. Later the Spiral project is discussed by the General Staff. It has been two weeks since Kutakhov promised to clarify Minister Dementiev's position on the project, but he never did talk to him. What is Kamanin expected to tell the cosmonauts training for the program? He is also trying to get a flight plan and press kit together in preparation for the Soyuz 9 mission, but there is no Central Committee resolution allowing this work. The KGB and Central Committee want to keep everything secret.

1970 June 30 - .

Original plan for tests of Spiral - . Nation: Russia. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: MiG 105-11. Original planned date for first flight tests of Spiral with rocket first stage..

1970 October 6 - .

Spiral spaceplane project review. - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Dementiev, Grechko, Andrei, Krylov, Mikoyan, Titov, Zakharov. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Spiral OS.
Meeting with the Spiral spaceplane cosmonaut training group. Mikoyan and Dementiev (son of the MAP Minister) have been working on this project for four years. Many in the leadership (Grechko, Zakharov, Krylov, etc) are against the concept and hinder the project in any way the can. Grechko considers it 'a fantasy' and Kutakhov does not support it energetically. Engineer-Colonel Sokolov-Sokolenik is the head of the unit (having replaced Titov, who is now in staff school). The United States has hundreds of flights on the X-15, which they have taken to 90 km altitude and 7000 km/hour airspeed. In the Soviet Union, all such work has been frozen for a decade.

1970 November 26 - .

Kutakhov opposes expanded VVS role in space. - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Kutakhov, Nikolayev, Tereshkova. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Spiral OS.
Kutakhov visits the cosmonaut training centre. He is still against the VVS being involved in manned spaceflight. He tells Kamanin that Kamanin's draft resolution on the use of space for reconnaissance, communications, navigation, and piloted flight is not appropriate for 1971 - more like 1980. In the evening, Kamanin talks to Nikolayev about Tereshkova's complaints. He claims that in seven years he has only had two or three of these blow-ups with her. He blames her in-laws for starting the whole thing and keeping the bad feelings going.

1971 January 15 - .

Spiral to be raised at VVS Soviet. - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Leonov, Nikolayev, Zakharov. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Spiral OS.
Kamanin manges to get to Zakahrov, who agrees to take the Spiral issue to the Military Soviet of the VVS. Leonov and Nikolayev review Kamanin's new draft decree to be presented to he Military Soviet. The DOS-7K is two weeks behind schedule for the planned 15 March launch date.

1971 January 18 - .

Spiral controversy continues. - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Kutakhov. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Spiral OS. Kutakhov flies to Minsk, with the draft decree to be submitted to the Military Soviet still not approved. The leadership have many questions, especially concerning the Spiral project..

1971 January 23 - .

Meeting of VVS leadership. - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Tereshkova. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Spiral OS.
Kamanin reviews his public relations operations. In ten years the cosmonauts have made 6,000 speeches and gone on 200 publicity tours. Tereshkova is the most in demand. 30 documentary films have been produced, as well as hundreds of books and brochures. The Star City Museum had 13,000 visitors in 1970.

1971 January 28 - .

Spiral negotiations continue. - . Nation: Russia. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Spiral OS.
An article Kamanin has written on aircraft designer Ilyushin has been published in Pravda. Kamanin is impressed by a new book by Orlov on possible civilian medical applications of technology developed for spaceflight. Negotiations continue with the Military Soviet on the resolution on future manned military space projects.

1971 February 1 - .

Military Soviet of the VVS considers manned space plans - Day 1. - . Nation: Russia. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Spiral OS.
The Military Soviet of the VVS meets from 10:00 to 15:00. Kamanin's draft decree is debated. The Apollo 14 launch has bolstered interest in Soviet spaceflight. Problems with the decree are identified, but solved. Kamanin is particularly happy that mention is made of good use of crewed spacecraft designs as opposed to total automation.

1971 February 2 - .

Military Soviet of the VVS considers manned space plans - Day 2. - . Nation: Russia. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Spiral OS. Kamanin waits and waits to give his speech on the second day of the VVS Military Soviet. It is constantly postponed. He spends 16 hours waiting 'on-call'. This demonstrates to him the poor organisation of the military leadership..

1974 June 30 - .

Spiral project resurrected - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Glushko. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: MiG 105-11. Glushko supports modest project to do subsonic flight tests of Spiral orbiter configuration..

1976 October 11 - . Launch Vehicle: Spiral 50-50.

MiG 105-11 first flight - . Nation: Russia. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: MiG 105-11. The EPOS spaceplane made its first flight, taking off from an old dirt airstrip near Moscow, flying straight ahead to an altitude of 560 m, and landing at the Zhukovskii flight test center 19 km away. Pilot was A. G. Festovets..

1977 June 30 - .

Originally planned full up Spiral flight - . Nation: Russia. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: MiG 105-11. Original planned date for flight test of Spiral with airbreathing hypersonic first stage..

1977 November 27 - . Launch Vehicle: Spiral 50-50.

MiG 105-11 first air-drop - . Nation: Russia. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: MiG 105-11. The first air-drop launch from a Tu-95K (used previously for Kh-20 air to surface missile tests) was made from an altitude of 5,000 m, with landing on skids on a beaten earth air strip..

1978 September - .

Uragan space interceptor allegedly authorised - . Nation: Russia. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Uragan Space Interceptor.
Russian sources continue to maintain that the Uragan manned spaceplane project never existed. However Western intelligence reported that development of a larger manned 'space interceptor' was authorised in September 1978. This spaceplane, supposedly called 'Uragan', was to be launched atop the new Zenit launch vehicle.

1978 September - . Launch Vehicle: Spiral 50-50.

MiG 105-11 final flight - . Nation: Russia. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: MiG 105-11.
The eighth and final flight resulted in a hard landing and the write-off of the aircraft. First and last flights were made by test pilot A. G. Festovets. The eight flights were considered sufficient to characterize the spaceplane's subsonic aerodynamic characteristics and air breathing systems.

1978 September 30 - .

Uragan space interceptor project begun - . Nation: Russia. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Uragan Space Interceptor.
In order to counter US space shuttle flights made in polar orbits from Vandenberg, deep black Uragan project begun. Scaled-up Spiral to be launched by new Zenit launch vehicle, carrying Nudelmann recoilless gun (same as developed for TKS) for destruction of shuttle after interception and inspection. First flight planned 1983.

1982 June 3 - . 21:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar LC107/1. Launch Pad: LC107/pad?. LV Family: R-14. Launch Vehicle: K65M-RB.

Cosmos 1374 - . Mass: 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Buran. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: BOR-4. Duration: 0.0700 days. Decay Date: 1982-06-03 . USAF Sat Cat: 13257 . COSPAR: 1982-054A. Apogee: 204 km (126 mi). Perigee: 158 km (98 mi). Inclination: 50.70 deg. Period: 88.10 min.
Subscale Spiral spaceplane. After 1.25 revolutions of the earth, deorbited and recovered by Soviet naval forces in the Indian Ocean at 17 degrees South, 98 degrees East, 560 km south of Cocos Islands. Made a 600 km cross-range maneuver during reentry. The recovery was filmed by an Australian Orion reconnaissance aircraft, revealing the configuration to the West for the first time.

1983 March 15 - . 22:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar LC107/1. Launch Pad: LC107/pad?. LV Family: R-14. Launch Vehicle: K65M-RB.

Cosmos 1445 - . Mass: 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Buran. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: BOR-4. Duration: 0.0700 days. Decay Date: 1983-03-16 . USAF Sat Cat: 13883 . COSPAR: 1983-017A. Apogee: 208 km (129 mi). Perigee: 158 km (98 mi). Inclination: 50.70 deg. Period: 88.20 min. Subscale Spiral spaceplane. After 1.25 revolutions of the earth, deorbited and recovered by Soviet naval forces in the Indian Ocean, 556 km south of the Cocos Islands ..

1983 December 27 - . 10:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar LC107/1. Launch Pad: LC107/pad?. LV Family: R-14. Launch Vehicle: K65M-RB.

Cosmos 1517 - . Mass: 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Buran. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: BOR-4. Duration: 0.0500 days. Decay Date: 1983-12-27 . USAF Sat Cat: 14585 . COSPAR: 1983-125A. Apogee: 217 km (134 mi). Perigee: 212 km (131 mi). Inclination: 50.70 deg. Period: 88.80 min. Subscale Spiral spaceplane. In a new mission profile, braked out of orbit over the South Atlantic and was recovered in the Black Sea after one orbit of the Earth..

1984 December 19 - . 03:55 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar LC107/1. Launch Pad: LC107/pad?. LV Family: R-14. Launch Vehicle: K65M-RB.

Cosmos 1614 - . Mass: 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Program: Buran. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: BOR-4. Duration: 0.0500 days. Decay Date: 1984-12-19 . USAF Sat Cat: 15442 . COSPAR: 1984-126A. Apogee: 223 km (138 mi). Perigee: 174 km (108 mi). Inclination: 50.70 deg. Period: 88.50 min. Last flight of the subscale Spiral spaceplane. Recovered December 19, 1984 5:26 GMT, in the Black Sea after one orbit of the Earth..

1987 August 1 - . 03:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.

Cosmos 1871 - . Payload: Uragan boilerplate or Orlets-2 Mass Model. Mass: 15,000 kg (33,000 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Uragan Space Interceptor. Duration: 9.00 days. Decay Date: 1987-08-10 . USAF Sat Cat: 18259 . COSPAR: 1987-065A. Apogee: 188 km (116 mi). Perigee: 168 km (104 mi). Inclination: 97.00 deg. Period: 88.10 min. Considered by some observors as possible spite test of Uragan space interceptor boilerplate mass model, just prior to project cancellation.
Officially: Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space..

1987 August 28 - . 08:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC45/1. LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.

Cosmos 1873 - . Payload: Uragan boilerplate or Orlets-2 Mass Model. Mass: 15,000 kg (33,000 lb). Nation: Russia. Agency: MO. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Uragan Space Interceptor. Duration: 16.00 days. Decay Date: 1987-09-14 . USAF Sat Cat: 18318 . COSPAR: 1987-071A. Apogee: 241 km (149 mi). Perigee: 175 km (108 mi). Inclination: 64.80 deg. Period: 88.70 min. Considered by some observors as possible spite test of Uragan space interceptor boilerplate mass model, just prior to project cancellation.
Officially: Investigation of the upper atmosphere and outer space..

1987 September - . LV Family: Zenit. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-2.

Uragan spaceplane allegedly cancelled - . Nation: Russia. Spacecraft Bus: Spiral 50-50. Spacecraft: Uragan Space Interceptor.
Uragan was said to have been cancelled before the first flight of the Buran shuttle. Possibly the cancellation of US Shuttle polar orbit military missions from Vandenberg after the Challenger explosion eliminated the space interceptor's mission. Or perhaps it never existed and was merely the subject of a very successful disinformation campaign. Adding even more confusion is that it is now known that at least two spaceplanes - Chelomei's LKS, for launch on Proton, and Molniya's OK-M, for launch on Zenit, were being designed concurrently with Buran. And the official history of the MiG OKB, states cryptically that after completion of the 105-11 flight tests development of the spaceplane continued....

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