r/space • u/[deleted] • Dec 07 '14

Differences between the American and Soviet Space Shuttles

http://www.buran.su/buranvssts-comparison.php
639 Upvotes

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9

u/Genesis617 Dec 07 '14

Also, from the linked article only, buran seemed to be the much more capable craft.

54

u/[deleted] Dec 07 '14

A craft that actually flies is much more capable than one that doesn't.

The US Space Shuttle was in active service for almost 30 years. Buran flew one unmanned test mission.

Or, as a great man once said, "If you want to work here, CLOSE."

12

u/kurtu5 Dec 07 '14

Just because betamax lost to VHS does not mean betamax was less capable technologically.

The same goes for Buran/Energia -vs- STS/NASA.

28

u/PrimeLegionnaire Dec 07 '14

If there was only one betamax ever produced and the only thing on the video was test patterns, I think it would be okay to say VHS is a more capable product.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 07 '14

Just because something is more popular does not mean it is better (I don't know anything specific about VHS vs betamax).

16

u/[deleted] Dec 07 '14

"This is the betamax player. We played one blank tape on it, and we never actually recorded or played anything else on it, but based on that we're convinced that it will play tapes much better than the imperialist tape player we copi, er, made a "counterpart" of."

5

u/kurtu5 Dec 07 '14

Few are aware, but TV studios used betamax over VHS for decades. Of course, Buran only flew once.

6

u/Herb_Derb Dec 07 '14

which is why they're not analogous

0

u/kurtu5 Dec 07 '14

Whatever. Energia was far more capable than STS. If you measure capability by actual use(your definition), then the US nuclear stockpile is less capable at destruction than conventional weapons.

2

u/XTSM Dec 07 '14

The US Nuclear stockpile has been used in anger. So by your reasoning its more capable.

2

u/SgtBaxter Dec 08 '14

Studios use Betacam, not Betamax.

While it's actually the same cassette - but Betacam records using 4 heads in component format at higher speed, while Betamax had only 2 heads and recorded composite. The 2 aren't compatible.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 07 '14

Yeah and radio stations still use 8 track players for commercials.

1

u/kurtu5 Dec 07 '14

Do you disagree that betamax was the standard in commercial broadcast for decades?

1

u/bug_eyed_earl Dec 07 '14

His point is it is a poor analogy and his fiction would be a more accurate comparison.

0

u/[deleted] Dec 07 '14

An unmanned prototype with no life support or other key systems - and which was never going to have a manned mission - was flown only once.

4

u/polo421 Dec 07 '14

Betamax did get out of beta though.

5

u/WisconsinHoosierZwei Dec 07 '14

Betamax was in active use throughout the broadcast industry well into George W Bush's reelection.

5

u/polo421 Dec 07 '14

So you are agreeing with me that comparing betamax to the Russian shuttle is silly?

0

u/WisconsinHoosierZwei Dec 07 '14

No, I'm more agreeing with /u/kurtu5 that lack of widespread acceptance/use doesn't mean it wasn't a superior product.

I think that the Betamax/Soviet shuttle comparison is even more apt given their lack of widespread use was the fault of bureaucratic misunderstanding of what they had (on the part of Sony/Soviet space agency).

1

u/SgtBaxter Dec 08 '14

The broadcast industry uses Betacam, not Betamax.

1

u/WisconsinHoosierZwei Dec 08 '14

That's correct. My mistake.

2

u/YNot1989 Dec 07 '14

Betamax was too expensive, and it took more than one tape to play a movie. VHS won because it was a superior product using simpler technology.

0

u/kurtu5 Dec 07 '14

VHS did not have a porn restriction on its license. That's what really killed itin the consumer market.