🚀 go-pugleaf

>   On the contrary, the next launch of Energia will probably be carrying
>  "Shuttleski".  Satellite photos of Tyuratam have shown shuttle vehicles
>  for years.  Looks like they're ready to launch.
> 
			.  .  .

>  Anyway, Energia is a Saturn V-class launcher (ignoring the minor detail
>  that the only Saturn Vs left are being used as lawn ornaments) and can
>  put a hell of a lot more payload up than can Shuttle.  Or, it can put
>  the Russian Shuttle and payload up.

Just how much is known about the Soviet shuttle?
Is it an all purpose human/cargo vehicle like the US shuttle,
or a smaller human carrier with little cargo capacity like
the European projects?

The Energia launch configuration - payload hanging on the side -
leads me to an interesting speculation: Perhaps Energia will carry
a small, reusable shuttle on one side and an expendable cargo module
on the other side in one launch. This would give them the same
capabilities as a large, US style shuttle, but without the engineering
compromises required to cram crew and cargo into one reusable vehicle.

					Larry Geary
					ihnp4!attunix!lmg