Energia–Buran heavy-lift development and test program (1976–1991)

1. Government decree starts Energia–Buran program

   Feb 1, 1976Labels: Energia Buran, Soviet government

   • Energia rocket
   • AKC Intro

2. NPO Molniya founded to build Buran orbiter

   Feb 26, 1976Labels: NPO Molniya, NPO Energia

   • NPO Molniya
   • Molniya intro

3. Buran orbiter assembly begins

   Jan 1, 1980Labels: Buran orbiter, manufacturing

   • Buran spacecraft

4. RD-170 family engine development and early tests

   Aug 25, 1980Labels: RD-170 engine, Energia boosters

   • RussianSpaceWeb
   • RD 170

5. Buran flight orbiter delivered to Baikonur for final work

   Dec 1, 1984Labels: Buran orbiter, Baikonur Cosmodrome

   • Buran spacecraft

6. Zenit-2 makes first flight, validating booster approach

   Apr 13, 1985Labels: Zenit-2, RD-171 engine

   • Zenit launches
   • Zenit spec

7. OK-GLI atmospheric Buran test flights begin

   Nov 10, 1985Labels: OK-GLI, Buran test

   • OK GLI
   • Buran missions

8. Energia’s first launch carries Polyus (Skif-DM) payload

   May 15, 1987Labels: Energia rocket, Polyus Skif-DM

   • Energia rocket
   • Polyus

9. Buran completes rollout and integrated ground testing

   May 19, 1988Labels: Buran orbiter, Baikonur testing

   • Buran spacecraft
   • Energia rocket

10. Energia launches Buran on first and only orbital flight

    Nov 15, 1988Labels: Energia rocket, Buran orbiter

    • Energia rocket
    • NYT 1988

11. Program stalls as USSR dissolves and funding collapses

    Dec 1, 1991Labels: Soviet Union, program funding

    • Buran programme
    • Buran Energia site

12. Buran program officially terminated by Russian government

    Jun 30, 1993Labels: Russian government, Buran program

    • Buran programme
    • Energia rocket