View source for MAKS (spacecraft)

{{short description|Proposed Soviet air-launched reusable launch system project}}
{{Infobox spacecraft class
| image = Antonov An-225 3-view.svg
| caption = Rendering of a MAKS spaceplane carried atop of an [[Antonov An-225]] to stratosphere for launching into space
| name = MAKS
| manufacturer = 
| country = Soviet Union
| applications = Transport to low Earth orbit and back
| operator = [[Soviet space program]]
| orbits = [[Low Earth orbit]]
| lifetime = 1981 to 1991
| derivedfrom = 
| derivatives = 
| status = Canceled, 1991
| launched = None
}}

The '''MAKS (Multipurpose aerospace system)''' (Russian: МАКС (Многоцелевая авиационно-космическая система)) is a Soviet air-launched orbiter [[reusable launch system]] project that was proposed in 1988, but cancelled in 1991. The MAKS orbiter was supposed to reduce the cost of transporting materials to Earth orbit by a factor of ten. The reusable orbiter and its external expendable fuel tank would have been launched by an Antonov [[Antonov An-225|AN-225]] airplane, developed by [[Antonov|Antonov ASTC]] ([[Kiev]], [[Ukraine]]). Had it been built, the system would have weighed {{convert|275|MT|lk=on}} and been capable of carrying a {{convert|7|MT|adj=on}} payload.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aerospaceguide.net/space_planes/maks.html |title=Maks Air Launch System |work=Aerospaceguide.net |date=11 November 2010 |access-date=22 December 2010}}</ref>

Three variants of the MAKS system were conceived: MAKS-OS, the standard configuration with the orbiter on top of the fuel tank; MAKS-T, with upgraded payload capability and a configuration that involved the fuel tank above the orbiter; and MAKS-M, a version that included its fuel tank within the envelope of the orbiter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.buran.ru/htm/molniya6.htm |title=Multipurpose Aerospace System (MAKS) |first=Vadim |last=Lukashevich |year=2005 |access-date=22 December 2010}}</ref>

As of June 2010, Russia was considering reviving the MAKS program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/plans-new-reusable-space-planes-100603.html |title=High-Tech Space Planes Taking Shape in Italy, Russia |work=Space.com |first=Jeremy |last=Hsu |date=3 June 2010 |access-date=22 December 2010}}</ref> In Ukraine, this project has developed into other air-launched orbiter projects, such as [[State Space Agency of Ukraine#Svityaz project|Svityaz]] and Oril.

== See also ==
*[[Air launch to orbit]]
*[[Buran programme]]
*{{section link|State Space Agency of Ukraine|Svityaz project}}
*[[RD-701]] - main engine

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Reusable launch systems}}
{{Russian human spaceflight programs}}

[[Category:Proposed spacecraft]]
[[Category:Spaceplanes]]
[[Category:Cancelled Soviet spacecraft]]


{{USSR-spacecraft-stub}}