Initially, the first unmanned flight of the Orbital Vehicle was expected to be in 2013.

The planned unmanned second flight of the Baikal was changed in 1991 to the following:

Eight unmanned flights were made, two of which carried live monkeys.

Four unmanned flights were made, one of which carried a chimpanzee named Ham.

Redstone and Atlas rockets had been tested by unmanned flight.

Historically, the Soviet shuttle/orbiter did not fly until 1988, and that was for a single, unmanned flight.

France is already profitably using space by focusing on real commercial goals with much cheaper unmanned flight.

According to the Space Commission which recommended the budget, an unmanned flight will be launched after 7 years of final approval.

December 1991 - unmanned second flight, with a duration of 7-8 days.

It more than doubled the previous endurance record for unmanned flight.