2K, often referred to as Ptichka, is the second Buran-class orbiter, produced as part of the Soviet/Russian Buran programme. Although 2K was the closest to being completed of any of the Buran-class orbiters, it was never finished. The program was officially cancelled in 1993, at which point the shuttle was 95-97% complete. The proposed official name for 2K was Burya.
OK-1.02 in storage at Baikonur Cosmodrome in 2020.
The Buran programme, also known as the "VKK Space Orbiter programme", was a Soviet and later Russian reusable spacecraft project that began in 1974 at the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute in Moscow and was formally suspended in 1993. In addition to being the designation for the whole Soviet/Russian reusable spacecraft project, Buran was also the name given to orbiter 1K, which completed one uncrewed spaceflight in 1988 and was the only Soviet reusable spacecraft to be launched into space. The Buran-class orbiters used the expendable Energia rocket as a launch vehicle.
The Antonov An-225 Mriya carrying a Buran orbiter in 1989.
Early artist's concept of a Soviet space shuttle approaching a manned space complex.
Igor Petrovich Volk, cosmonaut and test pilot of the OK-GLI.
The crew of Soyuz T-12 (Vladimir Dzhanibekov, Svetlana Savitskaya, and Igor Volk) on a stamp issued in 1985