On the 28th of November in Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute a round table, dedicated to the role of Ukrainian enterprises, scientists, engineers of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute in space exploration, took place. It was coincide with the 30th anniversary of the first (and the last) “Buran” spacecraft’s flight.
“Buran” is an orbital rocket craft of the Soviet space transportation system, created under the programme “Energia – Buran”. It was officially adopted in 1976; more than 1200 USSR enterprises took part in it. It is worth noting that the chief designer of the "Energia" rocket was the native of Odessa V. Glushko, and the chief designer of the "Buran" spacecraft was the native of Kiev G .Lozino-Lozynskiy. The scientists of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute also contributed to the implementation of this programme.
“Buran” performed the space flight on the 15th of November 1988. The spacecraft was placed into near-earth orbit with the help of “Energia” launch vehicle from the “Baikonur” cosmodrome. It made two orbital flights around the Earth and landed 205 minutes after launch. The flight was done entirely automatically, without the crew, with the usage of Soviet on-board computer and software. The fact of the orbital craft’s space flight and its landing inn automatic regime under the direction of the on-board computer was made into the Guinness book of records. In 1990 the works of “Energia – Buran” programme were put on hold, in 1993 the programme was over. The unique technical solutions, made during the “Buran” constructing, still be used in rocket and space technologies.
The Vice-Rector responsible for Research work of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, academician of the National Academy of Sciences Myhailo Ilchenko opened the meeting of the Round Table. He shortly characterized the programme “Energia – Buran” and focused on the Ukrainian enterprises’, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute scientists’ and engineers’ participation in the programme implementation. The Adviser to the Chairman of the State Space Agency of Ukraine Eduard Kuznetzov told about the directions of Ukrainian enterprises’ works and Kyiv Polytechnic in exploration the outer space. The Hero of Ukraine, honored test-pilot Oleksadr Galunenko told about the history of the AN-225 “Mriya” craft’s creation and flight tests, created for the “Buran” transportation from the reserve airfields. The Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute Head of the Chair, Doctor of technical sciences, professor Vasyl Strutynskiy in his performance referred to the issue of the university’s scientific developments in the aerospace industry, in particular, told about works on the planning and production of the low-frequent generator of oscillations for testing of the filler system of the complex “Energia – Buran” with fuel and oxidizers. The chief specialists of Kyiv Central Design Bureau of rebar building V. Zolotarevskiy told about the development and production of the “Buran” spacecraft’s joint propulsion system. The engineer of the 1st category of metrology and standardization laboratory of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute Yuriy Gonchar has given a briefing on the development and installation of the hanging system of “Energia – Buran” Universal Rocket and Space transport system. The other participants of the Round Table also mentioned working on the "Energia – Buran" program preparation of the launch of the Buran and preparation of its launch. Of course, there was a discussion of the role of Ukrainian enterprises, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute scientists in a number of other projects related to the exploration of outer space.
At the end of the meeting, the head of the of Aviation and Astronautics History Department of the State Polytechnic Museum under Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute showed a film “The way to Buran” to the Round Table participants.