Ptichka is an informal nickname for the second space shuttle to be produced as part of the Buran program. It was never officially named. It is also known as Shuttle 1.02. It is distinguishable from the other shuttles by a red framework attached to the top of its cargo bay doors.

Ptichka was also an informal nickname for all of the space shuttle orbiters. However, the formal theme for the whole orbiter project was Buran, and Burya was mentioned as a likely name for the spacecraft.

Construction

Construction of the second orbiter started in 1988, and although the orbiter was closest to being completed of any of the Buran shuttles (after the Shuttle Buran

Shuttle Buran

The Buran spacecraft , GRAU index 11F35 K1 was a Russian orbital vehicle analogous in function and design to the US Space Shuttle and developed by Chief Designer Gleb Lozino-Lozinskiy of Energia rocket corporation...

), it was never finished. The program was officially canceled in 1993, at which point the shuttle was 95-97% complete.

Projected flights

Projected flights as of 1989:

• 1991 - unmanned first flight, with a duration of 1–2 days.
• 1992 - unmanned second flight, with a duration of 7–8 days. Orbital maneuvers and space station approach test.

Changed in 1991:

• December 1991 - unmanned second flight, with a duration of 7–8 days. Orbital maneuvers and space station approach test:
  • automatic docking with Mir
    Mir
    Mir was a space station operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, at first by the Soviet Union and then by Russia. Assembled in orbit from 1986 to 1996, Mir was the first modular space station and had a greater mass than that of any previous spacecraft, holding the record for the...
    
    's Kristall
    Kristall
    The Kristall module was the fourth module and the third major addition to the Mir space station. As with previous modules, its configuration was based on the 77K module, and was originally named "Kvant 3". It was launched on May 31, 1990 on a Proton rocket...
    
    module.
  • crew transfer from Mir to the shuttle, with testing of some of its systems in the course of twenty-four hours, including the remote manipulator
  • undocking and autonomous flight in orbit
  • docking of the manned Soyuz-TM
    Soyuz-TM
    The Soyuz-TM crew transports were fourth generation Soyuz spacecraft used for ferry flights to the Mir and ISS space stations...
    
     101 with the shuttle
  • crew transfer from the Soyuz to the shuttle and on board work in the course of twenty-four hours
  • automatic undocking and landing

Status

Ptichka is currently the property of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...

, and is located in the MIK building at Baikonur Cosmodrome

Baikonur Cosmodrome

The Baikonur Cosmodrome , also called Tyuratam, is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan, about east of the Aral Sea, north of the Syr Darya river, near Tyuratam railway station, at 90 meters above sea level...

.

External links

• 1.02 Shuttle