View source for Ptichka

{{short description|Reusable launch vehicle}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2009}}
{{Infobox Space Shuttle
| name = ''Ptichka''<br>''Burya''
| native_name = Птичка<br>Буря
| native_name_lang = ru
| image = 05 OK-1.02.png
| type = [[Buran programme|''Buran'']]-class orbiter
| number = 1.02
| country = Soviet Union
| status = 95-97% complete<ref name="buran.ru-1.02" />
|}}

'''2K''' ([[GRAU]] index [[serial number]] 11F35 2K, NPO Molniya airframe number 1.02), often referred to as '''''Ptichka''''' ({{langx|ru|Птичка}}, "little bird", although this was also a nickname for all orbiters in the programme<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hendrickx |first=Bart |title=Energiya-Buran: the Soviet space shuttle |last2=Vis |first2=Bert |date=2007 |publisher=Springer Praxis Publishing |isbn=978-0-387-73984-7 |series=Springer-Praxis books in space exploration |location=Berlin |pages=87}}</ref>), is the second ''Buran''-class orbiter, produced as part of the Soviet/Russian [[Buran programme]]. Although 2K was the closest to being completed of any of the ''Buran''-class orbiters (after the orbiter [[Buran (spacecraft)|''Buran'']]), it was never finished. The program was officially cancelled in 1993, at which point the shuttle was 95-97% complete. The proposed official name for 2K was '''''Burya''''' ({{langx|ru|Буря}}, "storm" or "tempest").<ref name="buran.ru-1.02" /><ref name="Buran vehicles registry">[https://www.buran.ru/htm/chavo.htm Buran vehicles registry]</ref>

== Projected flights ==

{{See also|List of Buran missions}}

2K was being prepared for its maiden flight to perform the first fully regular ''Buran''-class orbiter operation. (The flight of ''Buran'' was lacking regular thermal control and power systems.) This orbiter was also planned to receive a remote manipulator and docking system.

As of 1989, the orbital flight test program for the second orbiter was split into two missions, with a space station approach test on the second, but delays in preparations changed the plans to perform all test tasks in one maiden flight, scheduled for December 1991.<ref name="projected">{{cite web | url = http://www.buran.ru/htm/pilots.htm | title = Экипажи "Бурана" Несбывшиеся планы. | publisher = buran.ru | accessdate = 5 August 2006}}</ref> The mission profile included:
* Uncrewed launch;
* Automatic docking with ''[[Mir]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s ''[[Kristall]]'' module;
* Crew transfer from ''Mir'' to the spaceplane, with onboard systems testing in course of twenty-four hours;
* Remote manipulator testing;
* Undocking and autonomous flight in orbit;
* Crewed [[Soyuz TM]] No.101 docking to the orbiter;
* Crew transfer from the Soyuz to the spaceplane and on board work in the course of twenty-four hours;
* Automatic undocking, reentry and landing.

== After program cancellation ==

[[File:Изделие 1.02, фото 2 .jpg|thumb|OK-1.02 in storage at [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]] in 2020.]]

In August 1995, 2K was moved into storage within the MZK building (Russian: МЗК, Монтажно-Заправочный Комплекс, "Assembling and Fueling Facility") at [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]], alongside the full size test article OK-MT.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOYEg1fj95Q | title=Перегруз Бурана или последние дни 3 центра испытаний | website=[[YouTube]] }}</ref> 

=== Ownership ===

The ownership of 2K and its sister ship ''[[Buran (spacecraft)|Buran]]'' has been contested since the fall of the [[Soviet Union]], with the director of [[Roscosmos]] [[Dmitry Rogozin]] attesting that he had tried to purchase ''Buran'' and return it to Russia, but became entangled in legal disputes on its true owner. The contractor for the ''Buran'' space programme, [[RSC Energia]], had set up a subsidiary [[CJSC Energia]] to manage its overseas assets in 2004, which were then transferred to [[RSE Infrakos]] in 2004 and relinquished to [[JSC KRISP Aelita]], a joint Russian-Kazakh company. Kazakh businessman [[Dauren Musa]] asserted ownership of 2K in 2011 after purchasing the company's shares, which was disputed by the Kazakh government, but reaffirmed by the country's court after litigation proceedings.<ref name="buran.ru-1.02">{{cite web |url=http://www.buran.ru/htm/1-02.htm |title=Несостоявшаяся гордость отечественной космонавтики - второй летный корабль 11Ф35 первой серии (изделие 1.02) |language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dubin |first1=Tristan |title=Once a crown jewel of the Soviet space program, the Buran became a graffitied wreck |url=https://www.supercluster.com/editorial/the-severed-head-and-the-soviet-space-plane |access-date=23 May 2022 |work=Supercluster |date=26 April 2022}}</ref>

With the ''Buran'' destroyed in 2002, 2K is considered valuable as the last of its kind, and Musa has offered to trade the spacecraft in return for the skull of last Kazakh [[Khan (title)|khan]] [[Kenesary Kasymov]]. Kasymov had been beheaded in 1847 and his skull sent to Russia, but his skull remains missing today, with Russia denying knowledge of its location.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Berger |first1=Eric |title=Let’s make a deal: Entrepreneur wants to trade Buran shuttle for a skull |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/10/kazakh-entrepreneur-seeks-to-trade-soviet-shuttle-for-historic-skull/ |access-date=23 May 2022 |work=Arstechnica |date=10 April 2021}}</ref>

=== 2021 graffiti incident ===

In April 2021, 2K was vandalized with [[graffiti]], including the word ''dobro'' ({{langx|ru|добро}}, meaning "good") on the right side of the orbiter.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Newdick|first=Thomas|title=Graffiti Artists Defaced Soviet-Era Buran Space Shuttle At Russian Space Center|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40811/graffiti-artists-defaced-soviet-era-buran-space-shuttle-at-russian-space-center|access-date=2021-05-28|website=The Drive| date=26 May 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Photos of the graffiti surfaced on [[Instagram]] and [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] on May 26, though by that time the orbiter had already been painted over.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Speed|first=Richard|title=Who gave dusty Soviet-era spacecraft that unwanted lick of paint? It was an idiot, with a spraycan, in Baikonur|url=https://www.theregister.com/2021/05/26/buran_graffiti/|access-date=2021-05-28|website=www.theregister.com|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> According to [[NASASpaceFlight.com]], there is evidence that [[Roscosmos]] may have known about the vandalism and decided to cover it up.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Pavlushchenko|first=Katya|date=2021-05-27|title=Buran shuttle graffiti highlights concern for space history, need for museum ownership & care|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/05/buran-space-history/|access-date=2021-05-28|website=NASASpaceFlight.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

The vandalism caused distress to many space enthusiasts. Roscosmos also expressed concern and expressed its belief that the ''Buran'' hardware at [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]] should be transferred to a museum, and that it would discuss the issue at the next [[Kazakhstan–Russia relations|Intergovernmental Kazakh-Russian Commission]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Someone Reportedly Vandalized a Historic Soviet Spaceship with Graffiti|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/someone-reportedly-vandalized-a-historic-soviet-spaceship-with-graffiti/|access-date=2021-05-28|website=Vice.com|language=en}}</ref> [[Dauren Musa]], the current owner of the orbiter, also expressed his concern about the state of the hardware, and stated that he would discuss the fate of his orbiters with Roscosmos.<ref name=":0" />

NASASpaceFlight noted that the vandalism may have benefited the orbiters by drawing attention to their condition.<ref name=":0" />

== See also ==

{{Portal|Spaceflight}}

* {{Annotated link|Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-105}}
* {{Annotated link|Space Shuttle Columbia}}

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== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [http://www.buran-energia.com/bourane-buran/bourane-modele-102.php 1.02 orbiter]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150703222637/http://www.idealistrevolution.org/the-ruins-of-the-soviet-space-shuttles/ Photoset of MZK building, current state of stored orbiter]
* [https://www.buran.ru/htm/chavo.htm Buran vehicles registry]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltPAYrHYgjg 4K video walking tour around the Ptichka and OK-MT orbiters filmed November 2022]

{{Buran program}}
{{Space Shuttles}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ptichka (Spacecraft)}}
[[Category:Cancelled Soviet spacecraft]]
[[Category:Buran-class orbiters]]