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Own Your Own Russian Space Shuttle

Posted by Hemos on from the new-meaning-to-"home-launch" dept.

MagicM writes "On e-bay, you can now bid on a Russian test shuttle: "This is a Bor-5 VKK (Spacecraft) and was used to test the aerodynamic characteristics of high altitude and extreme speed and heat on a space vehicle. It is an exact 1/8 scale model of the Russian "Buran" space shuttle." Bids starting at $550,000.00, no bids yet, closes at Aug-12-01 18:44:03 PDT. Better hurry!" I think the most humourous part of this is the seller added "I prefer PayPal!" Anyone out there with a 550,000 credit limit, buy away! *grin*

12 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. More by whatnotever · · Score: 5, Informative

    All about Buran:
    http://dmoz.org/Science/Technology/Spa ce/Space_Shuttle/Buran,_Russian_Space_Shuttle/

    And a *real* one for sale! (Er, my Russian is a little rusty, but it says "For Sale" in English...)
    http://www.buran.ru/htm/forsale.htm

    And apparently, the program isn't dead, anymore:
    http://www.spacedaily.com/news/russia- space-general-01m.html

  2. does anyone know if ? by beanerspace · · Score: 5, Funny
    Man, at $550k, whatta deal. But if I'm going to go bonkers in space then I'm going to need some features. Problem is, I couldn't find specifications that would list any of the following necessities built in:
    • 8 Track Player (with at least one tape of either Elvis or Parliment ... or at least Bowie playing Major Tom)
    • Tang dispenser (already mixed & ready to go .. not that powdered crap)
    • Year's supply of space-food sticks (vintage 1971)
    • Booster system activated with the clapper
    • Computer equipped with neat female voice like that of the Enterprise
    • A little clicking sound that'll altert me to if I've left the right turn signal on
    • The assurance that someone will hear me scream
    --

    healyourchurchwebsite.com - WWJB?
  3. I dont think its for real by jhittner · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The seller is also selling his collection of "HARRY POTTER AUDIO CASSETTES" and some dolls. Most of his other items are under $20. This is quite a leap for this guy.

  4. woah by BeerHunter · · Score: 3, Funny

    John Carmack has an infinite credit limit... he could buy that thing and send a spider monkey into orbit with a little webcam...

    Model Russian space capsule: Five Hundred Thousand dollars.
    Spider monkey bought from Brazilian poachers: Six Hundred dollars.
    Custom Solid Fuel Rocket Engine: Two Hundred Forty Thousand dollars
    The look on said monkey's face as his brain is crushed passing 10Gs..... priceless.

    Oh baby.... thats what I'm talkin about.

  5. Re:16,000K - Am I missing something? by treat · · Score: 3, Informative
    "It descended, hitting mach 20 and temperatures of 16,000 K!" Considering that Carbon boils at 5100 K and the sun is right around 6000K, I must be missing something.

    While the surface of the sun, its coldest part, is about 5800K, other parts are much hotter. For instance, the corona is a million or two degrees, and the core - where fusion takes place - is about 15 million.

    Anyone comparing a temperature to the surface of the sun is being deliberately deceptive. They are attempting to demonstrate how hot something is by comparing it to the sun - which we all know is very very hot - but they are comparing it to the sun's coldest part.

  6. In the seller's comments: by Omerna · · Score: 3, Funny

    Praise : From T Models to Space Shuttles Dutch has it! Great Fellow A+++

    Looks like he already sold a space shuttle... I'm impressed.

    --


    No sig for you.
    1. Re:In the seller's comments: by Monkeyman334 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Complaint: Did not recieve shuttle promptly as promised, didn't even work I recieved it. F-------

  7. hey it's Junk Yard Wars! by garcia · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I would think that the people from JYW could come up w/a far better space vehicle from the scrap heap (at least it would be better looking -- there was some guy that painted their creation to make it look nice).

    Sorry but I really don't feel that at $550k this is worth it. It is in terrible condition and would need tons of restoration work.

    I think that it should be donated to a museum or at least reduced in price...

  8. revolution by Richthofen80 · · Score: 4, Funny
    This is a revolution for all people who are vertically challenged. no longer will the oppresive normally sized people be able to say they are the only ones conquering space. Now midgets and dwarves can enjoy that same luxury.

    It is exactly like the real space shuttle, only 1/8th it's size? I'll call it, "Mini-shuttle!"

    --
    Reason, free market capitalism, and individualism
  9. Ohhh . . . a hit counter by Chuu · · Score: 5, Funny

    Time to watch the /. effect in action!

  10. Why bother with e-bay? by blang · · Score: 3, Funny

    They could have saved some money, by just calling Larry "more toys than thou" Ellison directly.

    --
    -- Another senseless waste of fine bytes.
  11. As if... by smagruder · · Score: 3, Funny

    people already had enough junk in their yards. A pink flamingo, lawn jockey and now a space shuttle... nice.

    --
    Steve Magruder, Metro Foodist