Curious feature of Buran/Energia Vibration Tower at Baykonur

Take a look at the Energia-Buran 112A vibration tower
as seen from Google-Earth, at 45.9374N, 63.3113E.

In other photographs that I have seen, the south corner
has a long spar extending to the southeast that serves as
the top runner of the front doors when they open fully.

Here's a view of the tower with the door open,
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/energia_sdi_2.jpg,
but others views with the door closed show the top
door runner still extending outwards.

A low-res image of that top runner is
at http://www.buran.ru/images/jpg/sk-56-1.jpg
and I have sharper ones from Russian books.

Significance: If the Russians parked a spare
Buran orbiter or other equipment inside the
tower, can they now open the doors to ever
get it out?

"Jim Oberg" wrote:

Take a look at the Energia-Buran 112A vibration tower
as seen from Google-Earth, at 45.9374N, 63.3113E.

In other photographs that I have seen, the south corner
has a long spar extending to the southeast that serves as
the top runner of the front doors when they open fully.

In the Google Earth view - I can plainly see something that looks like
the runner, and the door track on the ground beneath.

Here's a view of the tower with the door open,
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/energia_sdi_2.jpg,
but others views with the door closed show the top
door runner still extending outwards.

A low-res image of that top runner is
at http://www.buran.ru/images/jpg/sk-56-1.jpg
and I have sharper ones from Russian books.

Significance: If the Russians parked a spare
Buran orbiter or other equipment inside the
tower, can they now open the doors to ever
get it out?

--
Touch-twice life. Eat. Drink. Laugh.

-Resolved: To be more temperate in my postings.
Oct 5th, 2004 JDL