Too bad the Buran was copied, almost exactly except for the lack of engines, from the US shuttle. Its enhanced capacities are due to the removal of the on-board engines and the capacities of the Energia booster stack, which we should buy, as it is a very good Big Dumb Booster. However, BDBs aren't sexy, and Not Invented Here Syndrome brings its own problems.
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Too bad the Buran was copied, almost exactly except for the lack of engines, from the US shuttle. Its enhanced capacities are due to the removal of the on-board engines and the capacities of the Energia booster stack, which we should buy, as it is a very good Big Dumb Booster. However, BDBs aren't sexy, and Not Invented Here Syndrome brings its own problems.