Truly a collector's dream. The BOR-5 is to be considered the strongest point in the creation of the "Buran" spaceship and the whole "Energy-Buran" system as well. A high interest item in each museum in which is has been displayed, the BOR-5 is the high-tech result of Soviet and Russian concerns about the nuclear missile launch capabilities of the United State’s Space Shuttle program. The Buran program cost at least $10 billion as the Soviets tried to find a space-based solution to counter what they perceived to be fourth U.S. platform designed to launch nuclear missiles (the first three are submarines, missiles, and aircraft). For years, Soviet engineers were baffled to find a countermeasure for the only U.S. missile program that did not involve ballistic trajectories. The threat of missiles launched directly at the Soviet Union from space was never successfully countered and only after the conclusion of the Buran program did the Soviets learn of the peaceful intentions of the U.S. Shuttle program.

The BOR-5 is a 1400 kg exact 1/8 scale model of the Soviet space shuttle Buran and it was used to validate the aero-dynamic characteristics of Buran at hypersonic speeds, between 1983 and 1988. The BOR-5 was launched on probably five sub-orbital trajectories from Kapustin Yar, in the direction of Lake Balkhash, using SL-8 (Cosmos) rockets (Russian designation: K65M-RB5). BOR is the abbreviation for Bezpilotnyy Orbitalnyy Raketoplan (Unmanned Orbital Rocketplane).

At an approximate 110-120 km height, the Kosmos booster pitched down, driving at full thrust for several minutes, accelerated the model to Mach 18.5 at 45 degrees, before separation. The craft landed using a parachute landing system after a flight of 2000 km. BOR-5 flights also tested carbon-based and quartz fibre heat-shield material so paving the way for Buran.

Russian sources are contradictory as to the number of BOR-5 flights. Novosti Kosmonavtiki recoreded the following dates/flights:

7/6/84 - Model 501 (Failed. Due to an electrical problem, the model did not separate from the launch vehicle.)
4/17/85 - Model 502
12/27/86 - Model 503
8/27/87 - Model 504
6/22/88 - Model 505

The spacecraft displayed in Florida is maintained in post-test flight condition, still displaying its distinctive designation number (88045G505). Apparent to all that have examined the BOR-5 are the various striations, scorch marks and burns on its various mineral fibre glass coatings. In addition, the tungsten molybdenum nose fairing and leading edges of the wings contain evocative ash markings caused by the intense heat experienced during re-entry.

Based on the information from Novosti, this BOR-5 could be the last one that was launched in a series of five (6/22/88). However, in the case of six flights, with a first flight on 7/4/83, it could be the fifth one that made a sub-orbital test on 8/27/87.

The Space Museum has the BOR-5 on loan from Mr. Ray Ganoe, a former teacher in space science and the owner of a tire store in Merritt Island, Florida for over thiry years. Mr. Ganoe, together with two of his brothers, Bill and Dick, bought the space vehicle as an investment in 1997, through the Russian Molniya company, the designer of the Buran and BOR spacecraft.

We were told that the BOR-5 was put up for auction in 1991 by Superior Stamp & Coin, Beverly Hills, California. In the same year it was shown for the first time to the public at Moscow's 'To The Stars' exhibit. It is strange that the spacecraft was transported to the USA so shortly afterwards. Obviously, there was a reason to suppose that the BOR could be sold but the 1991 auction did not motivate any meaningful offers. After that the BOR-5 was stored in the Mohave Desert for about four years.

In 1995, the space vehicle was brought out of storage and put in the Santa Barbara Museum of Flight. It seems that the people from the museum had Superior Stamp & Coin try to auction BOR-5 again but the highest bid was $700,000, below the minimally acceptible bid so Molniya -- they thought it should have brought at least two to three million dollars. The spacecraft was sent back to the museum and there it stayed until Mr. Ray Ganoe purchased it in 1997 through an intermediary. Mr. Rob Simpson, also from Merritt Island, Florida. (Mr. Simpson had been informed by a friend from Russia that Molniya was still interested in selling the BOR-5.)

The spacecraft is still for sale. If interested please click on the link below.

Acknowledgement: Many thanks to E. Rudolf van Beest, Gerard van de Haar, Mr. Charlie Mars, Mr.Rob Simpson, Mr. John Gourley and Mr. Ray Ganoe.