Soviet Space Shuttle

Out of all the illusive, weird topics in history the Soviet space shuttle, the Buran, has always been something that has caught my attention, but I have never had the time to research it to any extent. At first glance the Buran looks like the American space shuttle, but closer inspection reveals the words 'CCCP' and the distinct hammer and sickle flag. The russians developed the Buran in the late '80's as a direct response to the american orbiter because they perceived it as a significant military threat. The russians borrowed heavily from the american design in shaper and even the three stage booster design. In 1988 the Soviets conducted the one and only unmanned flight test. Three hours after launch and two orbits later the Buran glided back to Earth just a few miles from were its journey started.

Years after the program was canceled, mainly due to the collapse of the soviet union, the shuttle was left abandoned in a hanger in Kazakhstan. The hanger was left unmaintained for decades, which caused its collapsed, crushing the Buran and the remanding parts of its booster assembly. I find it said that the crowing achievement of the soviet space program has been lost.