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BOR-4
Part of Spiral 50-50
BOR-4 in the shop
BOR-4 in the shop
BOR-4 in the shop prior to launch
Credit: from Semenov, et. al., Buran, 1995.
Russian spaceplane. BOR-4 were subscale test versions of the Spiral manned spaceplanes. Built by Molniya, Russia. Launched 1982 - 1984.

Status: Operational 1982. First Launch: 1982-06-03. Last Launch: 1984-12-19. Number: 4 . Gross mass: 1,200 kg (2,600 lb). Height: 2.80 m (9.10 ft).

After cancellation of Spiral, they were flown to test heat shield materials developed for Buran. After a circuit of the earth, the spacecraft would deorbit, perform a gliding re-entry, followed by parachute deployment, splashdown in the ocean, and recovery by Soviet naval forces.

In 1973 the VPK initiated the BOR program to accomplish research on a space glider. In order to investigate the hypersonic aerodynamic characteristics and heat shield materials of the manned Spiral OS lifting body, 1:3 and 1:2 scale models of the OS were to be built. Unlike the full-scale model, these were had fixed wings and were designated BOR (unpiloted orbital rocketplane). BOR-1, -2, and -3 were increasingly sophisticated models of the configuration, flown on suborbital trajectories. After the cancellation of Spiral in favor of the Buran, BOR-4 subscale spaceplanes were used to test heat shield materials developed for Buran. Certain essential tests of these heat shield materials could not be done in the lab. These included interaction with the plasma sheath during re-entry, chemical disassociation effects, etc. The BOR-4 was clad in 118 tiles of the type developed for Buran as well as carbon-carbon nose cap and leading edge. These BOR-4 unmanned orbiters were equipped with braking engines. After a circuit of the earth, the spacecraft would deorbit, perform a gliding re-entry, followed by parachute deployment, splashdown in the ocean, and recovery by Soviet naval forces. BOR-4 flew four successful test flights at speeds of from Mach 3 to 25 and altitudes of 30 to 100 km. These test flights confirmed the physical, chemical, and catalytic processes that operated on the selected heat shield materials in the re-entry plasma. BOR-4 also provided important data on the acoustic environment during launch and re-entry. Compared to the Spiral MiG 105-11 EPOS configuration, the BOR-4 had a flattened, wider body with a much smaller vertical stabilizer. The cruise-back turbojet of the 105-11 seems to have been eliminated, and the canted stabilizer tips were cut off at the Mach angle, a MiG trademark.


More at: BOR-4.

Family: Spaceplane. Country: Russia. Launch Vehicles: R-14, Kosmos 3, K65M-RB, Kosmos 65MP. Launch Sites: Kapustin Yar, Kapustin Yar LC107/1. Agency: MO, Molniya bureau. Bibliography: 189, 2, 6, 81, 83, 6396, 12159.
Photo Gallery

BOR-4 at BerlinBOR-4 at Berlin
BOR-4 as exhibited at Berlin side view
Credit: Oliver Haßa


BOR-4BOR-4
Credit: Manufacturer Image


BOR-4 at BerlinBOR-4 at Berlin
BOR-4 as exhibited at Berlin side view
Credit: Oliver Haßa


Uragan / BOR-4Uragan / BOR-4
Credit: © Mark Wade


BOR-4 RecoveryBOR-4 Recovery
BOR-4 - Photo by Australian P-3 Naval Reconnaissance Aircraft
Credit: NASA


BOR-4 RecoveryBOR-4 Recovery
BOR-4 - Photo by Australian P-3 Naval Reconnaissance Aircraft
Credit: NASA


BOR-4 ModelBOR-4 Model
BOR-4 wind tunnel model used by NASA to study configuration and refine it for use in HL-20/HL-42 vehicles.
Credit: NASA



1982 June 3 - . 21:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar LC107/1. Launch Pad: LC107/pad?. LV Family: R-14. Launch Vehicle: K65M-RB.
1983 During the Year - .
1983 March 15 - . 22:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar LC107/1. Launch Pad: LC107/pad?. LV Family: R-14. Launch Vehicle: K65M-RB.
1983 December 27 - . 10:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar LC107/1. Launch Pad: LC107/pad?. LV Family: R-14. Launch Vehicle: K65M-RB.
1984 December 19 - . 03:55 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Complex: Kapustin Yar LC107/1. Launch Pad: LC107/pad?. LV Family: R-14. Launch Vehicle: K65M-RB.

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