Chapter 1: The Historic Buran Flight

In the autumn of 1988, the Soviet space shuttle “Buran” embarked on its inaugural and final journey. This mission primarily aimed to assess the capabilities of its autopilot system, successfully executing both flight and landing in fully automated mode. This raises a compelling question: How was such a sophisticated flight accomplished on autopilot in 1988, while contemporary airliners struggle to replicate this feat? Let’s delve into this intriguing topic.

The “Buran” spacecraft was the first reusable orbital vehicle developed by the Soviet Union. Its key functions included launching various equipment into Earth's orbit and transporting modules and personnel for building space stations. Additionally, “Buran” was capable of returning passengers and cargo from orbit, a feature not available in other spacecraft, which were limited to human return. The shuttle also had potential military applications.

The historic flight took place on November 15, 1988, and was executed flawlessly. “Buran” was propelled into orbit by a carrier rocket and completed two circuits around Earth. The entire mission was conducted autonomously and lasted 205 minutes. As the spacecraft prepared for landing, observers experienced a moment of anxiety when its automated systems unexpectedly altered its trajectory just before touchdown, causing it to vanish from radar. The flight control team was on high alert, ready to terminate the mission, suspecting a malfunction. However, “Buran” completed a successful landing, approaching the runway from a different angle, a maneuver that had been programmed in advance.

With only a minor deviation, “Buran” achieved a successful landing, etching its name in the Guinness Book of Records for its unparalleled accomplishment. Regrettably, this flight marked both the beginning and end of the “Buran” program, as funding evaporated following the dissolution of the USSR, and subsequent flights were deemed unprofitable and unnecessary.

Chapter 2: The Current State of Autopilot Technology

The first video provides a comprehensive look into the history of the Soviet Buran shuttle, exploring its technological advancements and the intriguing story of its mission.

Why is autopilot not commonly used for landings today?

In essence, while the majority of modern airliners are equipped to take off and land using autopilot—often doing so seamlessly without passengers noticing—this feature is infrequently utilized. In fact, international aviation regulations mandate that aircraft with over twenty passenger seats must have autopilot systems installed.

There are several reasons pilots tend to avoid automatic landings. For one, landings performed by autopilot tend to be less smooth than those executed manually. Furthermore, automatic systems are not suitable for all conditions, such as wet or snowy runways or during heavy winds. Additionally, autopilot systems may struggle to manage unexpected emergency situations that can arise during takeoff and landing. However, they provide invaluable assistance in low-visibility scenarios, such as fog.

Thus, while planes can autonomously take off and land under favorable weather conditions, passengers might remain unaware of the autopilot's involvement.

The second video features news coverage from 1988, showcasing the remarkable achievements of the Soviet Buran shuttle and its groundbreaking flight.

If you're interested in more articles about space, give us a clap!

Subscribe to our channel and leave your questions; I’ll address them in upcoming articles.