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MAKS Reusable Spaceplane Multipurpose Aerospace System Animation

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The MAKS (Multipurpose aerospace system) was a Soviet air-launched reusable launch system project that was proposed in 1988, but cancelled in 1991. An offshoot of the ENERGIA-BURAN program it had two RD-701 rocket tri-propellant engines based on RD-170 engine from the first stage of ENERGIA rocket and using an Antonov An-225 as a mobile launch platform.

source/image(PrtSc): Hazegrayart

The orbiter was supposed to reduce the cost of transporting materials to Earth orbit by a factor of ten. The reusable orbiter and its external expendable fuel tank would have been launched by an Antonov AN-225 airplane, developed by Antonov ASTC (Kyiv, Ukraine).Video: Hazegrayart

Had it been built, the system would have weighed 275 metric tons 271 long tons; 303 short tons and been capable of carrying a 7-metric-ton 6.9-long-ton; 7.7-short-ton payload.

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Three variants of the MAKS system were conceived: MAKS-OS, the standard configuration; MAKS-T, with upgraded payload capability; and MAKS-M, a version that included its fuel tank within the envelope of the orbiter./wikipedia

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