The Buran Space Craft ?

Vernon Martorana: BURAN SPACE CRAFT was a far better shuttle than our own in every single way and was capable of things , even out of earth orbit...I agree, we are thinking wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too small right now...I think we need to focus on multiple ship designs...The big challenge will be getting all countries on the same page to afford such things...Would be neat to say have the Russians run the Low Earth orbit program and Shuttles, we run another type of craft, the ESA works on ISS service and other space craft etc....But I think we are a far shot across the pond for that right now....Show more

Nona Lentini: The economics are such that for most purposes sending up an entirely new satellite is the way to go. Hubble was designed from the outset to be serviceable in orbit but the thinking now is that for all its scientific advances that particular aspect has made it something of an expensive white elephant. For a satellite most of the cost is usually launch co! st. Unmanned launches are always going to be far cheaper than manned missions which is why they are going the route they are. Separate out manned missions and heavy cargo lift. This was the original plan even with the shuttle before Congress decided that it was not willing to fund both a manned shuttle and another project for their heavy military satellites. The result was a shuttle not very well suited for either role and paradoxically more expensive to boot....Show more