FS2004 Myasishchev 3M-T Atlant Atlas (1)

Myasishchev 3M-T Atlant (atlas). In the mid 1970s the USA began the development of a re-usable space transport system that soon became universally known as the Space Shuttle. The Soviet Union responded by launching the development of a comparable system, known to generally as the BURAN (SnowStorm). To transport the components of the Space orbiter and Energia ultra-heavy multipurpose space rocket modules to the Baikonur, Kazakhstan launch site, the Myasishchev OKB proposed using the 3M bomber as a transportcarrier. Engineering changes to the 3 Bison-B tankers selected for conversion to transports included a 7 meter up-swept fuselage extension, twin end plate square vertical stabilizers, and strengthened out-rigger struts. The heaviest payload carried by the VM-T transports was the Buran orbiter shuttle itself, weighting in excess of 100, 000 lbs. Including a 50 ton fuel load, this constituted a max take-off weigh for the VM-T of over 410, 000lb.