While venturing around Kazakhstan, photographer and urban explorer Ralph Mirebs came across an enormous abandoned building. The massive structure looked like a large airport hangar, but much, much larger. After breaking into it, Ralph realized he just made an amazing discovery, because inside the building are two historical pieces unlike anything he has ever seen.
The abandoned hangar was built back when the Russians and the Americans were each trying to win the race for space exploration.
Ralph Mirebs
The hangar was erected in 1974 for the Buran Space Shuttle Program, which was designed to create some of the world’s most sophisticated exploration vessels. The program was halted in 1988, but the hangar remained operational until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1993.
Ralph Mirebs
But before the facility’s unfortunate demise, it housed three of the most advanced pieces of technology of their time. Sadly, only one shuttle ever partook in a mission.
Ralph Mirebs
The shuttle completed an unmanned orbit before it was grounded. It was later destroyed in a different hangar that collapsed on top of it.
Ralph Mirebs
The two remaining shuttles from the Buran Space Program are now sitting idly, somehow forgotten inside this abandoned hangar in Kazakhstan.
Ralph Mirebs
Ralph Mirebs
Ralph Mirebs
The incredibly advanced facility is equipped with atmospheric pressure control systems to keep dust and debris outside of its thick walls.
Ralph Mirebs
Those systems have long been turned off and this massive place, with the shuttles, are covered with dust and bird droppings.
Ralph Mirebs
The ceramic tiles that wrap the shuttles are starting to fall off, shattering on the floor when they do. And it’s only a matter of time before these important pieces of space exploration history are gone forever.
Ralph Mirebs
Although abandoned for years, only a few windows have been broken and there is not much damage from vandals – a rare sight when it comes to abandoned places.
Ralph Mirebs
Both shuttles never made it to launch. One shuttle was actually a mock-up shuttle that was used to test fit everything that would be used to build the fully functioning ones.
Ralph Mirebs
The yellow platforms show the massive size of this facility. They sit on pneumatic rollers that can move around the shuttles and platforms in unison.
Ralph Mirebs
With the climate control systems dead, the paint is starting to peel off and the walls are starting to rust.
Ralph Mirebs
The working shuttle looks like it was just about ready for its maiden voyage. Some of the ceramic tiles have fallen off but everything else are still in great shape.
Ralph Mirebs
The nose of the operation prototype shuttle. The shuttle sitting in the front of the building is the mock-up.
Ralph Mirebs
They are still surrounded by the working platforms, which are still in great condition.
Ralph Mirebs
Ralph Mirebs
Ralph Mirebs
Ralph Mirebs
Ralph Mirebs
Ralph Mirebs
Ralph Mirebs
Ralph Mirebs
The holes in front of the nose cone are the thrusters that would be used to slightly steer the shuttle in space. The ceramic tiles covering the shuttle were used to protect the shell from extreme temperatures the shuttle would be exposed to.
Ralph Mirebs
The small round opening on the side is the entry hatch leading the Russian astronauts into the cockpit.
Ralph Mirebs
Ralph Mirebs
“From this facility, the shuttles would have been transported to the launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome which is quite a few miles away.”
Ralph Mirebs
The Cosmodrome is still being used today. In fact, American astronauts head to the International Space Station from this location.
Ralph Mirebs
The cockpit of the shuttle still has some of its equipment intact.
Ralph Mirebs
Check out the amount of equipment systematically placed throughout the fuselage!
Ralph Mirebs
Ralph Mirebs
The hatch and pressure control systems looks like they’d still work, leaving us to wonder why the project was abandoned.
Ralph Mirebs
Looks like there’s still so much to salvage here.
Ralph Mirebs
This door leads to the back half of the fuselage where satellites, along with other space equipment would be stored and launched into the sky.
Ralph Mirebs
You can see air tanks inside. There’s also a giant hatch above that would allow astronauts to release their equipment into orbit.
Ralph Mirebs
Since the interior is sealed off, it’s relatively dust free and is still in amazing shape.
Ralph Mirebs
Ralph Mirebs
Mr. Mirebs made a truly remarkable discovery. But with all the incredible, forgotten equipment still in good condition, we are left to wonder why the facility was abandoned.
Ralph Mirebs