MAKS (spacecraft)

The MAKS (Multipurpose aerospace system) (Russian: МАКС (Многоцелевая авиационно-космическая система)) is a cancelled Soviet air-launched with orbiter Reusable launch system project that was proposed in 1988, but cancelled in 1991. The orbiter was supposed to reduce the cost of transporting materials to Earth orbit by a factor of ten. The reusable orbiter and its external non-reusable fuel tank, was to have been launched by an Antonov AN-225 airplane, developed by Antonov ASTC (Kyiv, Ukraine). Had it been built, the system would have weighed 275 metric tons (271 long tons; 303 short tons), and would have been capable of carrying a 7-metric-ton (6.9-long-ton; 7.7-short-ton) payload.

Three variants of the MAKS system were conceived: MAKS-OS, the standard configuration; MAKS-T, with upgraded payload capability; and MAKS-M, a version that included its fuel tank within the envelope of the orbiter.

As of June 2010, Russia was considering reviving the MAKS program. In Ukraine this project has developed into other air-launched orbiter projects, such as Svityaz and Oril.