The MAKS Spaceplane: Multipurpose aerospace system (Russian: МАКС)

The MAKS (Multipurpose aerospace system) (Russian: МАКС (Многоцелевая авиационно-космическая система)) was a Soviet air-launched reusable launch system project that was proposed in 1988, but cancelled in 1991. An offshoot of the ENERGIA-BURAN program it had two RD-701 rocket tri-propellant engines based on RD-170 engine from the first stage of ENERGIA rocket and using an Antonov An-225 as a mobile launch platform

[jaffacalling]

The collapse of the Soviet Union really screwed up space for decades.

[GURken]

This was in my opinion the most hearbreaking history of the late soviet space exploration. Gleb Lozino-Lozinsky always wanted to make a small spaceplane like an interceptor, but american space shuttle soaked into politics heads so they said to make something similar. But even then Lozino-Lozinsky secretly worked with small staff on his project "Spiral" until they were unvealed. I remember his interview from 30 years ago and even then he told that we don't need a shuttle because of its useless weight so we need to working on an air launch systems. Then came 1991. No money, no country, no future.

[thejesuschrist]

Amazing! Awesome! Absolutely love this channel!

[Sir_Uncle_Ned]

The rocket engine able to switch from kerolox to hydrolox on the fly would have been a revolution in spaceflight. Kerolox gets you to space, hydrolox gets you to orbit.

[gavinmccraw]

Stunning work as always! The best part of your channel is that you cover projects most have never heard about and visualize them on a professional level!

[jeffvader]

The tri-propellant engine is fascinating.

[leJpeg]

This is a very interesting way of getting to space

[maximsinitsa]

Wonderful video. Particularly your vision of RD-701 and shifting from Kerolox to Hydrolox.

[AmtrakCitiesSprinter]

Fun fact: the MAKS spaceplane uses an engine that runs on three propellants. The engine in particular was the RD-701. How it works is that the engine uses all three propellants, which was kerosene, liquid hydrogen, and liquid oxygen on the thicker part of the atmosphere, but once it’s higher up where the air is thinner, it will only use liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. Kinda cool if you ask me

[sebastiaomendonca]

The collapse of the Soviet Union was the single worst thing to ever happen to space exploration

[yokowan]

i somehow feel like the engines would not light when the spacecraft was so close to the carrier aircraft -- even if the fuselage didn't get barbecued, the acoustic energy would almost certainly shatter more fragile elements like the tailplane

[DuesenbergJ]

Love this channel. Every video is a treat.

[johngunderson]

Rockwell did a study for the USAF in the early 80's for a very similar concept called the Space Sortie Vehicle. The carrier aircraft was a heavily modified 747 and the external tank was a bit longer, but otherwise virtually identical to MAKS. It never left the drawing board, of course.

[IanSlatas]

Would the rocket have been ignited right on top of the Antonov like that?? Jeez, those pilots would have to have nerves of steel.

[craigrmeyer]

I presume the Rockwell "Space Sortie Vehicle" scheme -- like a MAKS but where the carrier 747 also had a SSME Shuttle engine on it to push it to a 60 degree attitude angle -- would be an awesome video, but also a *ton* of work to put together. Just saying. ;)

[FunBotan]

I once made this in KSP and got 1.7k subs out of nowhere. People gotta be very interested in this project. Too bad it's scrap metal now.

[maximus]

I found the looks ov it quite peculiar from the start: small, with a sloped underbelly, stuby wings and a penguin like beak.
Probably one of the favorite designs I've researched

[omskpravo]

Логично в сопровождение МИГ 31 или МИГ 25 поставить, но не СУ 27.

[YF-]

Soviet russia had some great engineers

[Shadowkey]

Man the soviets had some really cool ideas.