The spaceshuttle BURAN was the result of one of the most ambitious projects in the history of Russian space flight. The huge shuttle is 36 m long, 16 m high and weights about 80 tons. As was the case of the US model, reusability after near-earth space flights was of major importance. The BURAN prototype OK-GLI shown in the TECHNIK MUSEUM SPEYER was built in 1984 and was used for testing gliding-flight and landing after reentry into the atmosphere.

 

After the collapse of the Soviet Union further developments were stopped and finally the whole program was discontinued in 1993. Outside of Russia and the United States the shuttle in Speyer is the only one which can be visited in a museum.