MAKS mockup - side - MAKS mockup - side view Credit: Dr.Vadim P.Lukashevich. 17,290 bytes. 339 x 195 pixels.

The MAKS spaceplane was the ultimate development of the OK-M studies NPO Molniya conducted with NPO Energia. The draft project for MAKS was completed in 1988 and consisted of 220 volumes, generated by NPO Molniya and 70 sub-contractors and government institutes. Development of MAKS was authorised but cancelled after Perestroika. At the time of the cancellation, mock-ups of both the MAKS orbiter and the external tank had been finished. A 9,000 kgf experimental engine with 19 injectors was tested. There were 50 test burns proving the separate modes and a smooth switch between them. Since it was expected that MAKS could reduce the cost of transport to earth orbit by a factor of ten, it was hoped in the 1990�s that development funding could be found. However this has not happened to date. MAKS was to have flown by 1998.

The MAKS air-launched manned space system weighed 620 tonnes on takeoff and consisted of three elements:

• An-225 Mriya carrier aircraft, the largest in the world, originally developed to transport the Buran orbiter. The Mriya would take the 275 tonne MAKS piggy-back to an altitude of 8,000 to 9,500 m and then release it at a speed of 900 kph.

  ---

  MAKS mockup - aft - MAKS mockup - aft view of RD-701 engines Credit: Dr.Vadim P.Lukashevich. 19,249 bytes. 281 x 200 pixels.

  ---

• External tank. This carried liquid oxygen, kerosene, and liquid hydrogen propellants. It was 6.38 m in diameter and 32.1 m long, with a total mass of 248,000 kg and an empty mass of 11,000 kg.

• MAKS Orbiter. This spaceplane, designed for 100 reuses, was derived from the OK-M1 designed for NPO Energia. On-board systems were based on those already developed for Energia and Buran. The orbiter had an empty mass of 18,400 kg, with a wingspan of 12.5 m and a length of 19.3 m. An unmanned version could deliver 9.5 tonnes to a 200 km, 51 degree orbit in a payload bay 3.0 m diameter x 8.7 m long. The manned version took two crew and a payload of 8.3 tonnes in a bay 2.6 m diameter x 6.8 m long to the same orbit. At MAKS� tail were two RD-701 tripropellant engines. These were designed for 15 re-uses and used dense kerosene and liquid oxygen for initial operations, then switched modes to a reduced thrust and higher specific impulse using low density liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. This reduced the size of the huge hydrogen tank otherwise required. The RD-701 engine assembly in the MAKS had a total mass of 3990 kg and delivered a total thrust of 400,000 kgf at separation from the An-225.

---

MAKS propellant tank - MAKS propellant tank mockup Credit: Dr.Vadim P.Lukashevich. 19,027 bytes. 310 x 200 pixels.

---

Craft.Crew Size: 2. Design Life: 100 flights. Total Length: 19.3 m. Total Mass: 27,000 kg. Total Payload: 8,300 kg.

---

MAKS side view - MAKS side view drawing Credit: Dr.Vadim P.Lukashevich. 42,391 bytes. 721 x 371 pixels.

---

---

MAKS top view - MAKS top view drawing Credit: Dr.Vadim P.Lukashevich. 49,732 bytes. 724 x 393 pixels.

---

MAKS draft project is completed.

• 302 - Buran Home Page, . HTML when accessed: http://www.buran.ru/homepage.htm

---

MAKS launch - MAKS launches from back of An-225 Credit: Dr.Vadim P.Lukashevich. 9,910 bytes. 220 x 234 pixels.

---

---

MAKS mission profile Credit: Dr.Vadim P.Lukashevich. 17,033 bytes. 302 x 264 pixels.

---

---

MAKS cutaway drawing Credit: Dr.Vadim P.Lukashevich. 18,056 bytes. 361 x 301 pixels.

---