| Country of origin | Soviet Union |
|---|---|
| Operator | Soviet space program |
| Applications | Transport to low Earth orbit and back |
| Specifications | |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Design life | 1981 to 1991 |
| Production | |
| Status | Canceled, 1991 |
| Launched | None |
The MAKS (Multipurpose aerospace system) (Russian: МАКС (Многоцелевая авиационно-космическая система)) is a Soviet air-launched 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 expendable fuel tank would 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 been capable of carrying a 7-metric-ton (6.9-long-ton; 7.7-short-ton) payload.[1]
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.[2]
As of June 2010[update], Russia was considering reviving the MAKS program.[3] In Ukraine this project has developed into other air-launched orbiter projects, such as Svityaz and Oril.