BOR-5 after flight Credit - from Semenov, et. al., Buran, 1995.

The aerodynamic characteristics of Buran at hypersonic speeds were validated by the BOR-5 1:8 sub-scale model of Buran. The BOR-5 was boosted on sub-orbital trajectories to altitudes of 100 km and velocities of from 4,000 to 7,300 m/s. These proved the handling characteristics, aerodynamic moment, and control effectiveness from Mach 1.5 to Mach 17.5, at Reynolds numbers of from 1.05 to 2.1 and angles of attack from 15 to 40 degrees. They also allowed study of flow separation at the fuselage surface and thermodynamic characteristics of the design. Final results indicated a lift-to-drag ratio of 1.3 at hypersonic speed, 5.0 at Mach 2, and 5.6 at subsonic speed. Typical trajectory: ascent to 120 km; pitch down to drive model in atmosphere at 45 degree at Mach 18.5. None were reflown but at least 4 were recovered.

Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb).

• 1983 July 4 - BOR-5 Flight 1 - Program: Buran. Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 65MP. Apogee: 120 km (70 mi).

  Suborbital test of 1/8 scale model of Buran. Typical trajectory: ascent to 120 km; pitch down to drive model in atmosphere at 45 degree at Mach 18.5. None were reflown but at least 4 were recovered.

• 1984 June 6 - BOR-5 Flight 2 - Program: Buran. Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 65MP. Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Apogee: 120 km (70 mi).

  Suborbital test of 1/8 scale model of Buran. Typical trajectory: ascent to 120 km; pitch down to drive model in atmosphere at 45 degree at Mach 18.5. None were reflown but at least 4 were recovered.

• 1985 April 17 - BOR-5 re-entry vehicle test mission - Program: Buran. Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 65MP. Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

  Suborbital test of 1/8 scale model of Buran. Typical trajectory: ascent to 120 km; pitch down to drive model in atmosphere at 45 degree at Mach 18.5. None were reflown but at least 4 were recovered.

• 1986 December 25 - BOR-5 re-entry vehicle test mission - Program: Buran. Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 65MP. Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

  Suborbital test of 1/8 scale model of Buran. Typical trajectory: ascent to 120 km; pitch down to drive model in atmosphere at 45 degree at Mach 18.5. None were reflown but at least 4 were recovered.

• 1987 August 27 - BOR-5 re-entry vehicle test mission - Program: Buran. Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 65MP. Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

  Suborbital test of 1/8 scale model of Buran. Typical trajectory: ascent to 120 km; pitch down to drive model in atmosphere at 45 degree at Mach 18.5. None were reflown but at least 4 were recovered.

• 1988 June 21 - BOR-5 re-entry vehicle test mission - Program: Buran. Launch Site: Kapustin Yar. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 65MP. Mass: 1,400 kg (3,000 lb). Apogee: 130 km (80 mi).

  Suborbital test of 1/8 scale model of Buran. Typical trajectory: ascent to 120 km; pitch down to drive model in atmosphere at 45 degree at Mach 18.5. None were reflown but at least 4 were recovered.

• Semenov, Yu P, Lozino-Lozinsky, et. al., Mnogorazoviy orbitalniy korabl 'Buran', Mashinostroenne, Moscow, 1995. ISBN: 521702772X. Russian language book devoted to describing the space shuttle Buran in great technical detail. What was to have been... More at amazon.com...

• In JSR private files; original reference mislaid. (via Jonathon McDowell).

• Matthews, Henry, The Secret Story of the Soviet Space Shuttle, X-Planes Book 1, Beirut, Lebanon, 1994. Unusual English-language book, published in Beirut, on Soviet spaceplanes. Some information since found to be in error, but a valuable work.