The Buran was a Soviet space shuttle that flew only once in 1988. It was designed to carry cargo and crew into space, similar to the American Space Shuttle. The mission demonstrated the shuttle's capabilities, including its ability to land autonomously. The Buran program was initiated in response to the U.S. space shuttle program, aiming to showcase Soviet technological advancements. Despite its successful flight, the program was eventually canceled due to high costs and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The only Buran shuttle remains in a hangar at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.