On May 15, 1987, NPO Energia of the Soviet Union launched the first flight of the Energia booster. Energia was designed with the eventual goal of using it as a booster for the Buran orbiter, but also for launching cargo payloads.

Energia had only two flights. The second launch, on November 15, 1998, lifted Buran into orbit on an uncrewed test flight.

The video was provided by KSC TV, which received it from Soviet authorities who provided it to news agencies in Western Europe.

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