2.01 (Buran-class spacecraft)

2.01 is the designation of the third space shuttle to be produced as part of the Soviet/Russian Buran program. It carried the GRAU index serial number 11F35 K3 and is - depending on the source - also known as "OK-2K1", "Orbiter K3", "OK 2.01" or "Shuttle 2.01". This Buran-class shuttle orbiter was never officially named, but known by its nickname Baikal. Its construction was not complete when the Buran program was ended (30-50 percent done), so it remains unfinished.

Differences from OK-1K1

The 2.01 is the first of a second series of Buran-class shuttle orbiters. The main differences between the second series and the first operational Soviet shuttles are located in the cockpit, which has been improved using feedback from the earlier models of Buran-class shuttles, such as the flight of OK-1K1 and the construction of OK-1K2. It was also equipped with Zvezda K-36RB ejection seats for the first manned flights.

Projected flights

It was projected in 1989 that orbiter 2.01 would have its first manned space test flight in 1994, with a duration of twenty-four hours. The craft would have been equipped with a life support system and two ejection seats. Crew would have consisted of two cosmonauts — Igor Volk (commander) and Aleksandr Ivanchenko (flight engineer).