dmitrik wrote:

Incorrect. That is Buran "aerodynamic prototype" test article BTS-02
GLI. It was equippedd with four jet engines to test subsonic flight,
approach and landing.
http://www.buran.ru/htm/anabst.htm
http://www.buran.ru/htm/anabst2.htm



The original Buran design was going to have the two top motors to aid it
in landing after reentry. The two podded side motors were added to allow
it to take off from a runway for tests, and would not have been carried
on the shuttle in operational service.
The two top motors were deleted from the Buran itself to cut weight,
but there was an intention to possibly reintroduce them as an
improvement after it entered operational service.
I spent a couple of days going through the Russian-language version of
the Buran website, and bookmarking all the pages that had interesting
drawings, photos, or videos on them- so if anyone is looking for
anything interesting about Buran's design, or info on the other Soviet
spaceplane (Bor, MiG-105 and Spiral) designs, as well as the Energia
booster, I'll see if I have any info on the area of interest in my
bookmarks.

Pat