Raketoplans Red Glare

While cruising the net today, looking for something else in the space vein, I came across the great soviet space site: www.russianspaceweb.com/raketoplan.html.

A fantastic resource in itself, Anatoly Zak has complied a comprehensive look behind the scenes of the veiled russian space program.

What struck me almost immediately though was the section on reuseable orbiters. Paul flagged up the 'Spiral' project earlier in the week, but I spotted another close contender for the Task Force 1 inspriration - the Raketoplan R-2. Although it doesn't appear anywhere in a larger format picture, the small shot of the scale model bears an uncanny resemblance to the SWORD craft. A later design, the P-2 has a rear configuration similar to the Dyna-Soar, with similar hull shape and engine layout. These designs would have pre-dated SWORD by some 8 or 9 years, and were suggested as potential satellite killers or even kamikaze style cruise missiles. Given the veil of secrecy thrown over all soviet dealings during this time, its unlikely that these designs would have been available to the West, but its interesting to note the definite similarity!