LEGO Designer:
Allan Jordan (Drscoop)
Designed: January 2020
The Polyus spacecraft was launched 15 May 1987 from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 250 as part of the first flight of the Energia system, but failed to reach orbit.
According to Yuri Kornilov, Chief Designer of the Salyut Design Bureau, shortly before Polyus’ launch, Mikhail Gorbachev visited the Baikonur Cosmodrome and expressly forbade the in-orbit testing of its capabilities. Kornilov claims that Gorbachev was worried that it would be possible for Western governments to view this activity as an attempt to create a weapon in space and that such an attempt would contradict the country’s previous statements on the USSR’s peaceful intent.
For technical reasons, the payload was launched upside down. It was designed to separate from the Energia, rotate 180 degrees in yaw, then 90 degrees in roll and then fire its engine to complete its boost to orbit. The Energia functioned perfectly. However, after separation from Energia, the Polyus spun a full 360 degrees instead of the planned 180 degrees. When the engine fired, it slowed and burned up in the atmosphere over the south Pacific Ocean. This failure was attributed to a faulty inertial guidance system that had not been rigorously tested due to the rushed production schedule.
Parts of the Polyus project’s hardware were re-used in Kvant-2, Kristall, Spektr and Priroda Mir modules, as well as in the ISS module Zarya.
Designer Notes
The Core booster for the Energia, Energia-M, Polyus and Buran models should have flexi tubing along the core stage but Stud.IO and LDD would not let me add these. A pearl dark grey 75c23 and 75c32 should work, but might require trimming. These should be flexible enough to work. Or search the web for “Lego compatible pneumatic hose” and similar tubing can be bought by the metre – the outside diameter is a little different so the attachment point on the nosecone might require some modification? Similarly, the vertical pipes on the side boosters are 3mm hosing, but can, I understand, be replaced with 3mm PVC rods obtainable from various hobby or craft stores…
Credits
This has evolved significantly from my old v3 Energia Buran system. Significant thanks and credit are due to the following:
- Sunder59 for the original Energia-Polyus outline design.
- KingsKnight/Andrew Harkins for the US 1:110 shuttle design that influenced the Buran design and the Energia Core tank nosecone design.
- David Welling for significant improvements to the Side Boosters for stability, and Florent Todeschini for the inspiration for the upgraded nosecones.
- Sebastian Schoen for the Polyus model, the Buran-T nosecone design and for the inspiration to re-design the core section from a 6×6 stud core to a more accurate 5×5 stud core.
Part count: 1704 bricks, 140 lots.
| Unit | width | length | height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studs | 16.3 | 19.8 | 68.0 |
| Centimetres | 13.1 | 15.9 | 54.4 |
| Inches | 5.1 | 6.2 | 21.4 |
Downloads
- Complete Model
- PDF Instructions
Pay what you feel
This digital model is provided free of charge. However, if you like it, and you would like to thank the designer for their time, please consider a donation of your choice. 100% of your donation will go directly to the designer.
Donations can be made by following this link:
Further Information and References
Designer Notes
The Core booster for the Energia, Energia-M, Polyus and Buran models should have flexi tubing along the core stage but Stud.IO and LDD would not let me add these. A pearl dark grey 75c23 and 75c32 should work, but might require trimming. These should be flexible enough to work. Or search the web for “Lego compatible pneumatic hose” and similar tubing can be bought by the metre – the outside diameter is a little different so the attachment point on the nosecone might require some modification? Similarly, the vertical pipes on the side boosters are 3mm hosing, but can, I understand, be replaced with 3mm PVC rods obtainable from various hobby or craft stores…
Credits
This has evolved significantly from my old v3 Energia Buran system. Significant thanks and credit are due to the following: Sunder59 for the original Energia-Polyus outline design. KingsKnight/Andrew Harkins for the US 1:110 shuttle design that influenced the Buran design and the Energia Core tank nosecone design. David Welling for significant improvements to the Side Boosters for stability, and Florent Todeschini for the inspiration for the upgraded nosecones. Sebastian Schoen for the Polyus model, the Buran-T nosecone design and for the inspiration to re-design the core section from a 6×6 stud core to a more accurate 5×5 stud core.
Part count: 1704 bricks, 140 lots.
| Unit | width | length | height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studs | 16.3 | 19.8 | 68.0 |
| Inches | 5.1 | 6.2 | 21.4 |
| Centimetres | 13.1 | 15.9 | 54.4 |
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