The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-105, part of the Spiral program, was a crewed test vehicle to explore low-speed handling and landing. It was a visible result of a Soviet project to create an orbital spaceplane. The MiG 105 was nicknamed "Lapot" (Russian: лапоть, or bast shoe; the word is also used as a slang for "shoe"), for the shape of its nose.
The program was also known as the Experimental Passenger Orbital Aircraft (EPOS). Work on this project began in 1965, with the project being halted in 1969, only to be restarted in 1974 in response to the U.S. Space Shuttle Program. The test vehicle made its first subsonic free-flight test in 1976, taking off under its own power from an old airstrip near Moscow. Flight tests, totaling eight in all, continued sporadically until 1978. The actual space plane project was cancelled when the decision was made to instead proceed with the Buran project. The MiG test vehicle itself still exists and is currently on display at the Monino Air Force Museum in Russia.[1]
Spiral conceptedit
Soviet engineers opted for a midair launch scheme for Spiral. Known as "50 / 50", the idea was that the spaceplane and a liquid fuel booster stage would be launched at high altitude from the back of a custom-built hypersonic jet. The mothership was to have been built by the Tupolev Design Bureau (OKB-156) and utilize many of the same technologies developed for the Tu-144supersonic transport and the Sukhoi T-4 Mach 3 bomber. It was never built.
Spiral was a conventional delta wing that featured innovative variable-dihedral wings. During launch and reentry, these were folded upward at 60 degrees. After dropping to subsonic speeds post-reentry, the pilot lowered the wings into the horizontal position, giving the spaceplane better re-entry and flight characteristics.
Spiral was built to allow for a powered landing and go-around maneuver in case of a missed landing approach. An air intake for a single Kolesov turbojet was mounted beneath the central vertical stabilizer. This was protected during launch and re-entry by a clamshell door which opened at subsonic speeds.
Spiral was to have been protected by what Soviet engineers termed "scale-plate armour": niobium alloy VN5AP and molybdenum disilicide plated steel plates mounted on articulated ceramic bearings to allow for thermal expansion during reentry. Several BOR (Russian acronym for Unpiloted Orbital Rocketplane) craft were flown to test this concept.
In the event of a booster explosion or in-flight emergency, the crew compartment of Spiral was designed to separate from the rest of the vehicle and parachute to earth like a conventional ballistic capsule; this could be done at any point in the flight.
Spiral was intended to carry only its pilot.
Spiral was designed to land on skids, which deployed from a set of doors on the sides of the fuselage just above and ahead of the wings.
BOR reentry test vehiclesedit
Another spacecraft to use the Spiral design was the БОР (Russian: Беспилотный Орбитальный Ракетоплан, Bespilotnyi Orbital'nyi Raketoplan, "Unpiloted Orbital Rocketplane") series, uncrewed sub-scale reentry test vehicles. American analogs were the X-23 PRIME and ASSET. Several of these craft have been preserved in aerospace museums around the world.
Image
Type
Launch date
Usage
Current status
BOR-1
15.07.1969
Flight test, the experimental 1:3 scale model. Burned in the atmosphere at a height of about 60–70 km at a speed 8 000 mph (12 900 km/h). Was deployed at an altitude 328,083 ft (100 km) by 11K65
Burned (planned).
BOR-2
1969–1972
Sub-scale model of the Spiral space plane. Four launches.
Sub-scale model of the Spiral space plane. Two launches. 1. Destruction of the nose fairings after launch at a height of about five km (speed 0.94 Mach). 2. Flight program is fully implemented. Crashed on landing (Parachute failure)
^ abGordon, Yefim; Gunston, Bill (2000). Soviet X-Planes. Hinkley: Midland. pp. 120–121. ISBN978-1-85780-099-9.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-105.
Predecessor of Shuttle and Buran: Spiral Orbital Aircraft Programme
Spiral and EPOS project
Spiral, MIG 105, Uragan
April 30, 2024
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This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations February 2011 Learn how and when to remove this message This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 105 news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2011 Learn how and when to remove this message Learn how and when to remove this message The Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 105 part of the Spiral program was a crewed test vehicle to explore low speed handling and landing It was a visible result of a Soviet project to create an orbital spaceplane The MiG 105 was nicknamed Lapot Russian lapot or bast shoe the word is also used as a slang for shoe for the shape of its nose MiG 105 MiG 105 11 test vehicle at the Central Air Force Museum Role Test vehicle National origin Soviet Union Manufacturer Mikoyan First flight 1976 Status Cancelled Primary user Soviet Air Forces Contents 1 Development 2 Spiral concept 3 BOR reentry test vehicles 4 Specifications MiG 105 11 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksDevelopment editThe program was also known as the Experimental Passenger Orbital Aircraft EPOS Work on this project began in 1965 with the project being halted in 1969 only to be restarted in 1974 in response to the U S Space Shuttle Program The test vehicle made its first subsonic free flight test in 1976 taking off under its own power from an old airstrip near Moscow Flight tests totaling eight in all continued sporadically until 1978 The actual space plane project was cancelled when the decision was made to instead proceed with the Buran project The MiG test vehicle itself still exists and is currently on display at the Monino Air Force Museum in Russia 1 Spiral concept editSoviet engineers opted for a midair launch scheme for Spiral Known as 50 50 the idea was that the spaceplane and a liquid fuel booster stage would be launched at high altitude from the back of a custom built hypersonic jet The mothership was to have been built by the Tupolev Design Bureau OKB 156 and utilize many of the same technologies developed for the Tu 144 supersonic transport and the Sukhoi T 4 Mach 3 bomber It was never built Spiral was a conventional delta wing that featured innovative variable dihedral wings During launch and reentry these were folded upward at 60 degrees After dropping to subsonic speeds post reentry the pilot lowered the wings into the horizontal position giving the spaceplane better re entry and flight characteristics Spiral was built to allow for a powered landing and go around maneuver in case of a missed landing approach An air intake for a single Kolesov turbojet was mounted beneath the central vertical stabilizer This was protected during launch and re entry by a clamshell door which opened at subsonic speeds Spiral was to have been protected by what Soviet engineers termed scale plate armour niobium alloy VN5AP and molybdenum disilicide plated steel plates mounted on articulated ceramic bearings to allow for thermal expansion during reentry Several BOR Russian acronym for Unpiloted Orbital Rocketplane craft were flown to test this concept In the event of a booster explosion or in flight emergency the crew compartment of Spiral was designed to separate from the rest of the vehicle and parachute to earth like a conventional ballistic capsule this could be done at any point in the flight Spiral was intended to carry only its pilot Spiral was designed to land on skids which deployed from a set of doors on the sides of the fuselage just above and ahead of the wings BOR reentry test vehicles editAnother spacecraft to use the Spiral design was the BOR Russian Bespilotnyj Orbitalnyj Raketoplan Bespilotnyi Orbital nyi Raketoplan Unpiloted Orbital Rocketplane series uncrewed sub scale reentry test vehicles American analogs were the X 23 PRIME and ASSET Several of these craft have been preserved in aerospace museums around the world Image Type Launch date Usage Current status BOR 1 15 07 1969 Flight test the experimental 1 3 scale model Burned in the atmosphere at a height of about 60 70 km at a speed 8 000 mph 12 900 km h Was deployed at an altitude 328 083 ft 100 km by 11K65 Burned planned nbsp BOR 2 1969 1972 Sub scale model of the Spiral space plane Four launches NPO Molniya Moscow BOR 3 1973 1974 Sub scale model of the Spiral space plane Two launches 1 Destruction of the nose fairings after launch at a height of about five km speed 0 94 Mach 2 Flight program is fully implemented Crashed on landing Parachute failure Crashed nbsp BOR 4 1980 1984 Sub scale model of the Spiral space plane Four launches and two unconfirmed NPO Molniya Moscow nbsp BOR 5 1984 1988 Flight tests the experimental sub scale base model Five launches Different from Spiral spaceplane shape data was also used in the Buran project Technik Museum Speyer Germany Museum in Monino Russia nbsp BOR 6 Sub scale model of the Spiral space plane NPO Molniya MoscowSpecifications MiG 105 11 editData from Soviet X planes 1 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 10 6 m 34 ft 9 in including instrument boom Wingspan 6 7 m 22 ft 0 in Wing area 24 m2 260 sq ft Empty weight 3 500 kg 7 716 lb Gross weight 4 220 kg 9 304 lb Fuel capacity 500 kg 1 100 lb Powerplant 1 RD 36 35K turbojet 19 61 kN 4 410 lbf thrust Performance Maximum speed 800 km h 500 mph 430 kn Maximum speed Mach 0 65 Wing loading 175 kg m2 36 lb sq ft Landing speed 250 270 km h 160 170 mph 130 150 kn See also editBuran Shuttle Dream Chaser Space Shuttle Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era X 20 Dyna Soar X 24 NASA X 38 Crew Return VehicleReferences edit a b Gordon Yefim Gunston Bill 2000 Soviet X Planes Hinkley Midland pp 120 121 ISBN 978 1 85780 099 9 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 105 Predecessor of Shuttle and Buran Spiral Orbital Aircraft Programme Spiral and EPOS project Spiral OS Spiral 50 50 Spiral MIG 105 Uragan Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 105 amp oldid 1182448213, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
