2.01 (GRAU index serial number 11F35 3K) is the designation of the third Buran-class orbiter to be produced as part of the Soviet/Russian Buran programme. Its construction was not complete when the Buran programme was cancelled (30–50 percent done), so it remains unfinished.[1] It was never officially named, though it's often referred to as Baikal (Russian: Байкал) after Lake Baikal.
Differences from Buran and Ptichka
The 2.01 is the first of a second series of Buran-class orbiters. The design was improved using feedback from the earlier models of Buran-class shuttles, such as the flight of Buran and the construction of Ptichka.[1]
Drag chute container was reduced, since it turned out the surface area of the parachutes in the flight of Buran was overabundant.
After the Challenger disaster it was decided to limit the crew capacity of the second series of orbiters to four crew members with ejection seats regularly mounted.[2]
Since none of the second series orbiters were completed, only changes in the thermal protection system and OMS thrusters arrangement can be visible on 2.01.
History
Buran flight test Orbiter OK-2.01Body of 2.01 being towed by barge to Zhukovsky Airfield, 2011Buran 2.01 in Gromov Flight Research Institute in process of restoration, 2011Buran 2.01 at the Voenfilm-medyn cinema complex, August 2022
Projected flights
It was projected in 1989 that orbiter 2.01 would have its first crewed space test flight, 3K1, in 1994, with a duration of twenty-four hours. The craft would have been equipped with a life support system and two ejection seats. Crew would have consisted of two cosmonauts — Igor Volk (commander) and Aleksandr Ivanchenko (flight engineer).[3]
In 1991, construction of the orbiter was suspended, and in 1993, the Buran program was completely cancelled.
Post-retirement
After residing at the Tushino factory where it was constructed, it was incorrectly announced in 2006 that orbiter 2.01 would be put on display in the Technik Museum Speyer, Germany. However, the German Museum had actually bought OK-GLI, the jet-powered Buran atmospheric test vehicle, which appeared on display in its own new hangar from September 2008.[1]
On 22 June 2011, during the day the orbiter was put on a barge[9][original research?] to be moved to the MAKS 2011 international air show, which took place from 16 to 21 August in Zhukovsky (Moscow region).[10] In the night of 22–23 June, it was seen on the Moskva River.[11][12][original research?] The orbiter was exposed at the show with one side restored.
In July 2017, heat-tiles from orbiter 2.01 were listed online, leading some to believe that the orbiter had been scrapped or otherwise disassembled.[14] However, satellite imagery of Zhukovsky Airport taken in 2019 indicates that 2.01 still resided at the airfield, albeit in a different location (55°34′16″N38°8′34″E / 55.57111°N 38.14278°E / 55.57111; 38.14278).[15]
As of 22 April 2022, the orbiter had been moved to Voenfilm-Medyn cinema complex in Moscow Oblast,[16] where it resided at least through August 2022. Some of the heat-tiles removed in 2017 were missing, and the coordinates for the orbiter were 54,9504486, 35,8559756.
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