The Space Shuttle Discovery as seen from the International Space Station.

A spacecraft is a vehicle or device designed for spaceflight. On a sub-orbital spaceflight, a spacecraft enters outer space but then returns to the planetary surface (such as Earth) without making a complete orbit. For an orbital spaceflight, a spacecraft enters a closed orbit around the planetary body. Spacecraft used for human spaceflights carry people on board as crew or passengers. Spacecraft used for robotic space missions operate either autonomously or telerobotically. Robotic spacecraft that leave the vicinity of the planetary body are space probes. Robotic spacecraft that remain in orbit around the planetary body are artificial satellites. Starships, which are built for interstellar travel, are so far a theoretical concept only. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3032x2064, 1677 KB)Space Shuttle Discovery is viewed from the International Space Station moments before docking on July 28, 2005. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3032x2064, 1677 KB)Space Shuttle Discovery is viewed from the International Space Station moments before docking on July 28, 2005. ... NASAs Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States governments current manned launch vehicle. ... Space Shuttle Discovery (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-103) is one of the three currently operational spacecraft in the Space Shuttle fleet of NASA, the space agency of the United States. ... “ISS” redirects here. ... The Trikke is a Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) Automobiles are among the most commonly used engine powered vehicles. ... ISS in earth orbit. ... A sub-orbital spaceflight (or sub-orbital flight) is a spaceflight that does not involve putting a vehicle into orbit. ... Layers of Atmosphere - not to scale (NOAA)[1] Outer space, sometimes simply called space, refers to the relatively empty regions of the universe outside the atmospheres of celestial bodies. ... This article is about the astronomical term. ... This article is about Earth as a planet. ... Two bodies with a slight difference in mass orbiting around a common barycenter. ... An orbital spaceflight (or orbital flight) in the general sense is a spaceflight where the trajectory of a spacecraft reaches the height of, and through having an appropriate velocity enters into, orbit around an astronomical body. ... Two bodies with a slight difference in mass orbiting around a common barycenter. ... Edward White on a spacewalk during the Gemini 4 mission. ... An artists interpretation of the MESSENGER spacecraft at Mercury A space probe is an unmanned, usually telerobotic space mission in which a spacecraft leaves Earths orbit. ... Autonomous robots are robots which can perform desired tasks in unstructured environments without continuous human guidance. ... Telerobotics is the area of robotics that is concerned with the control of robots from a distance, chiefly using wireless connections ( like WiFi and similar). ... Technicians work on the Ulysses space probe. ... For other uses, see Satellite (disambiguation). ... One of the fictional ships called the Starship Enterprise from Star Trek, one of the most famous fictional starships. ... Artists depiction of a hypothetical Wormhole Induction Propelled Spacecraft, based loosely on the 1994 warp drive paper of Miguel Alcubierre. ...

Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration, space tourism and space warfare. Spacecraft and space travel are common themes in works of science fiction. Telecommunication involves the transmission of signals over a distance for the purpose of communication. ... Earth observation satellites are satellites specifically designed to observe Earth from orbit, similar to reconnaissance satellites but intended for non-military uses such as environmental monitoring, meteorology, map making etc. ... GOES-8, a United States weather satellite. ... Table of geography, hydrography, and navigation, from the 1728 Cyclopaedia. ... Planetary science, also known as planetology or planetary astronomy, is the science of planets, or planetary systems, and the solar system. ... The curvature of Earth seen from orbit provides one of the main attractions for tourists paying to go into space Space tourism is the recent phenomenon of individuals paying for space travel, primarily for personal satisfaction. ... Space warfare is combat that takes place in outer space. ... Space exploration is the physical exploration of outer-Earth objects and generally anything that involves the technologies, science, and politics regarding space endeavors. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ...

Spacecraft subsystems

A spacecraft system comprises various subsystems, dependent upon mission profile. Spacecraft subsystems may include: attitude determination and control (variously called ADAC, ADC or ACS), guidance, navigation, and control (GNC or GN&C), communications (COMS), command and data handling (CDH or C&DH), power (EPS), thermal control (TCS), propulsion, structures, and payload.

Life support

Spacecraft intended for human spaceflight must also include a life support system for the crew. In human spaceflight, the life support system is a group of devices that allow a human being to survive in outer space. ...

Attitude control:
Spacecraft need an attitude control subsystem to be correctly oriented in space and respond to external torques and forces properly. The attitude control subsystem consists of sensors and actuators, together with controlling algorithms. The attitude control subsystem permits proper pointing for the science objective, sun pointing for power to the solar arrays and earth-pointing for communications. // In the context of spacecraft, attitude control is control of the angular position and rotation of the spacecraft, either relative to the object that it is orbiting, or relative to the celestial sphere. ... Torque applied via an adjustable end wrench Relationship between force, torque, and momentum vectors in a rotating system In physics, torque (or often called a moment) can informally be thought of as rotational force or angular force which causes a change in rotational motion. ... Not to be confused with censure, censer, or censor. ... An actuator is a mechanical device for moving or controlling a mechanism or system. ...

GNC:
Guidance refers to the calculation of the commands (usually done by the CDH subsystem) needed to steer the spacecraft where it is desired to be. Navigation means determining a spacecraft's orbital elements or position. Control means adjusting the path of the spacecraft to meet mission requirements. On some missions, GNC and Attitude Control are combined into one subsystem of the spacecraft. The elements of an orbit are the parameters needed to specify that orbit uniquely, given a model of two ideal masses obeying the Newtonian laws of motion and the inverse-square law of gravitational attraction. ...

Command and data handling:
The CDH subsystem receives commands from the communications subsystem, performs validation and decoding of the commands, and distributes the commands to the appropriate spacecraft subsystems and components. The CDH also receives housekeeping data and science data from the other spacecraft subsystems and components, and packages the data for storage on a solid state recorder or transmission to the ground via the communications subsystem. Other functions of the CDH include maintaining the spacecraft clock and state-of-health monitoring.

Power:
Spacecraft need an electrical power generation and distribution subsystem for powering the various spacecraft subsystems. For spacecraft near the Sun, solar panels are frequently used to generate electrical power. Spacecraft designed to operate in more distant locations, for example Jupiter, might employ a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) to generate electrical power. Electrical power is sent through power conditioning equipment before it passes through a power distribution unit over an electrical bus to other spacecraft components. Batteries are typically connected to the bus via a battery charge regulator, and the batteries are used to provide electrical power during periods when primary power is not available, for example when a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) spacecraft is eclipsed by the Earth. Sol redirects here. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Jupiter (disambiguation). ... // A radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) is a simple electrical generator which obtains its power from radioactive decay. ... A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit in which objects such as satellites are below intermediate circular orbit (ICO) and far below geostationary orbit, but typically around 350 - 1400 km above the Earths surface. ... In chemistry an eclipsed conformation is a chemical conformation that exists in any open chain single chemical bond connecting two sp3 hybridised atoms as a conformational energy maximum due to steric hindrance. ...

Thermal control:
Spacecraft must be engineered to withstand transit through the Earth's atmosphere and the space environment. They must operate in a vacuum with temperatures potentially ranging across hundreds of degrees Celsius as well as (if subject to reentry) in the presence of plasmas. Material requirements are such that either high melting temperature, low density materials such as Be and C-C or (possibly due to the lower thickness requirements despite its high density) W or ablative C-C composites are used. Depending on mission profile, spacecraft may also need to operate on the surface of another planetary body. The thermal control subsystem can be passive, dependent on the selection of materials with specific radiative properties. Active thermal control makes use of electrical heaters and certain actuators such as louvers to control temperature ranges of equipments within specific ranges. Air redirects here. ... Space environment is a branch of astronautics and aerospace engineering that seeks to understand and address conditions existing in space that would impact the operation of spacecraft, such as radiation, space debris, upper atmospheric drag, and the solar wind. ... Look up Vacuum in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Celsius is, or relates to, the Celsius temperature scale (previously known as the centigrade scale). ... An actuator is the mechanism by which an agent acts upon an environment. ...

Propulsion:
Spacecraft may or may not have a propulsion subsystem, depending upon whether or not the mission profile calls for propulsion. The Swift spacecraft is an example of a spacecraft that does not have a propulsion subsystem. Typically though, LEO spacecraft (for example Terra (EOS AM-1) include a propulsion subsystem for altitude adjustments (called drag make-up maneuvers) and inclination adjustment maneuvers. A propulsion system is also needed for spacecraft that perform momentum management maneuvers. Components of a conventional propulsion subsystem include fuel, tankage, valves, pipes, and thrusters. The TCS interfaces with the propulsion subsystem by monitoring the temperature of those components, and by preheating tanks and thrusters in preparation for a spacecraft maneuver. A remote camera captures a close-up view of a Space Shuttle Main Engine during a test firing at the John C. Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi Spacecraft propulsion is any method used to change the velocity of spacecraft and artificial satellites. ... The Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission consists of an unmanned spacecraft called Swift, which was launched into orbit on November 20, 2004, at 17:16:00 UTC (12:16 PM, EST) by a Delta 2 7320-10C expendable launch vehicle. ... Terra (EOS AM-1) is a multi-national NASA scientific research satellite in orbit around the Earth. ... For the science fiction novella by William Shunn, see Inclination (novella). ... A thruster is a small propulsive device used by spacecraft and watercraft for station keeping, attitude control, or long duration low thrust acceleration. ...

A launch vehicle, like this Proton rocket, is typically used to bring a spacecraft to orbit.

Structures:
Spacecraft must be engineered to withstand launch loads imparted by the launch vehicle, and must have a point of attachment for all the other subsystems. Depending upon mission profile, the structural subsystem might need to withstand loads imparted by entry into the atmosphere of another planetary body, and landing on the surface of another planetary body. Russian Proton rocket (NASA) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Russian Proton rocket (NASA) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A Saturn V launch vehicle sends Apollo 15 on its way to the moon. ... The Proton (Прото́н) rocket (formal designation: UR-500, also known as D-1/ D-1e or SL-12/SL-13) is a Russian unmanned space vehicle design, first launched in 1965. ... Two bodies with a slight difference in mass orbiting around a common barycenter. ... Atmosphere is the general name for a layer of gases that may surround a material body of sufficient mass. ...

Payload:
The payload is dependent upon the mission of the spacecraft, and is typically regarded as the part of the spacecraft "that pays the bills". Typical payloads could include scientific instruments (cameras, telescopes, or particle detectors, for example), cargo, or a human crew. This article is about the photographing device. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) is an example of a large particle detector. ... Edward White on a spacewalk during the Gemini 4 mission. ...

Ground segment:
The ground segment, though not technically part of the spacecraft, is vital to the operation of the spacecraft. Typical components of a ground segment in use during normal operations include a mission operations facility where the flight operations team conducts the operations of the spacecraft, a data processing and storage facility, ground stations to radiate signals to and receive signals from the spacecraft, and a voice and data communications network to connect all mission elements.^[1]

Launch vehicle
The launch vehicle is used to propel the spacecraft from the Earth's surface, through the atmosphere, and into an orbit, the exact orbit being dependent upon mission configuration. The launch vehicle may be expendable or reusable. A Saturn V launch vehicle sends Apollo 15 on its way to the moon. ... For other uses, see Atmosphere (disambiguation). ... Two bodies with a slight difference in mass orbiting around a common barycenter. ... An expendable launch system or expendable launch vehicle, ELV, is a single-use launch vehicle usually used to launch a payload into space. ... A reusable launch system (or RLV: reusable launch vehicle) is a launch vehicle which is capable of launching into space more than once. ...

Reusable spacecraft

The Space Shuttle Columbia seconds after engine ignition, 12 April 1981 (NASA)

The first reusable spacecraft, the X-15, was air-launched on a suborbital trajectory on July 19, 1963. The first partially reusable orbital spacecraft, the Space Shuttle, was launched by the USA on the 20th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's flight, on April 12, 1981. During the Shuttle era, six orbiters were built, all of which have flown in the atmosphere and five of which have flown in space. The Enterprise was used only for approach and landing tests, launching from the back of a Boeing 747 and gliding to deadstick landings at Edwards AFB, California. The first Space Shuttle to fly into space was the Columbia, followed by the Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. The Endeavour was built to replace the Challenger when it was lost in January 1986. The Columbia broke up during reentry in February 2003. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (700x813, 126 KB) A launch of the NASA Space Shuttle Columbia on STS-1 in April 1981. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (700x813, 126 KB) A launch of the NASA Space Shuttle Columbia on STS-1 in April 1981. ... Description Role: Research Aircraft Crew: one, pilot Dimensions Length: 50. ... is the 200th day of the year (201st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... NASAs Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States governments current manned launch vehicle. ... “Gagarin” redirects here. ... is the 102nd day of the year (103rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... The Space Shuttle Enterprise (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-101) was the first Space Shuttle built for NASA. It was constructed without engines or a functional heat shield, and was therefore not capable of space operations; its purpose was to perform test flights in the atmosphere. ... The Boeing 747, commonly nicknamed the Jumbo Jet, is a long-haul, widebody commercial airliner manufactured by Boeing. ... Edwards Air Force Base is a base located on the border of Kern County and Los Angeles County, California in the Antelope Valley, northeast of Lancaster. ... Space Shuttle Challenger (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-099) was NASAs second Space Shuttle orbiter to be put into service, Columbia being the first. ... Space Shuttle Discovery (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-103) is one of the three currently operational spacecraft in the Space Shuttle fleet of NASA, the space agency of the United States. ... Space Shuttle Orbiter Atlantis (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-104) is one of the fleet of space shuttles belonging to the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). ... Space Shuttle Orbiter Endeavour (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-105), is the fifth and final operational NASA space shuttle. ... The launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger on mission 51L/STS-33, the 25th of the STS (Space Transportation System) program, began at an estimated time of 16:38:00. ... The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas during re-entry into the Earths atmosphere, shortly before concluding its 28th mission, STS-107. ...

The first automatic partially reusable spacecraft was the Buran (Snowstorm), launched by the USSR on November 15, 1988, although it made only one flight. This spaceplane was designed for a crew and strongly resembled the U.S. Space Shuttle, although its drop-off boosters used liquid propellants and its main engines were located at the base of what would be the external tank in the American Shuttle. Lack of funding, complicated by the dissolution of the USSR, prevented any further flights of Buran. The Space Shuttle has since been modified to allow for autonomous re-entry via the addition of a control cable running from the control cabin to the mid-deck which would allow for the automated deployment of the landing gear in the event a un-crewed re-entry was required following abandonment due to damage at the ISS. The Shuttle Buran, serial number 11F35 K1, was the only space shuttle to come out of the Shuttle Buran program that was completed. ... is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... A spaceplane is a rocket plane designed to pass the edge of space. ...

Per the Vision for Space Exploration, the Space Shuttle is due to be retired in 2010 due mainly to its old age and high cost of program reaching over a billion dollars per flight. The Shuttle's human transport role is to be replaced by the partially reusable Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) no later than 2014. The Shuttle's heavy cargo transport role is to be replaced by expendable rockets such as the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) or a Shuttle Derived Launch Vehicle. Image from NASA site Two planned configurations for a return to the moon, heavy lift (left) and crew (right) The Vision for Space Exploration is the United States space policy announced on January 14, 2004 by President George W. Bush. ... CEV with lunar lander CEV during a landing on earth CEV rocket, the Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV) (right) along side the heavy-lift Cargo Launch Vehicle (CaLV) rocket. ... The U.S. Government–sponsored Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program was intended to develop affordable alternatives to legacy medium-to-heavy-lift launch vehicles (e. ... Comparison of the Saturn V, Space Shuttle and the two Shuttle Derived Launch Vehicles proposed to replace the Shuttle. ...

Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne was a reusable suborbital spaceplane that carried pilots Mike Melvill and Brian Binnie on consecutive flights in 2004 to win the Ansari X Prize. The Spaceship Company will build its successor SpaceShipTwo. A fleet of SpaceShipTwos operated by Virgin Galactic should begin reusable private spaceflight carrying paying passengers in early 2009. Scaled Composites (often abbreviated as Scaled), formerly the Rutan Aircraft Factory, is located at the Mojave Spaceport, Mojave, California, United States and is headed by aircraft designer Burt Rutan. ... SpaceShipOne is small, having a three-person cabin and short but wide wings. ... A spaceplane is a rocket plane designed to pass the edge of space. ... SpaceShipOne test pilot Mike Melvill Michael W. Melvill (born November 1941) is one of the test pilots for SpaceShipOne, the experimental spaceplane developed by Scaled Composites. ... SpaceShipOne test pilot Brian Binnie Brian Binnie is one of the test pilots for SpaceShipOne, the experimental spaceplane developed by Scaled Composites. ... For other uses, see X Prize (disambiguation). ... The Spaceship Company is a spacecraft manufacturing company formed by Burt Rutan and Richard Branson, jointly owned by Virgin Group and Scaled Composites, which will own the techology created by Scaled for Virgin Galctics Virgin SpaceShip program. ... SpaceShipTwo is a suborbital spaceplane currently under development by The Spaceship Company, a joint venture between Scaled Composites and Sir Richard Bransons Virgin Group of the UK, as part of the Tier 1b program. ... Virgin Galactic is a company within Sir Richard Bransons Virgin Group, which plans to offer sub-orbital spaceflights and later orbital spaceflights to the paying public. ... This space for sale Private spaceflight is flight above 100km Earth altitude conducted by an entity other than a government. ...

Fictional spacecraft

The term spacecraft is mainly used to refer to spacecraft that are real or conceived using present technology. The terms spaceship and starship are generally applied only to fictional spacecraft, usually those capable of transporting people. The spaceship is one of the prime elements in science fiction. Numerous short stories and novels are built up around various ideas for spacecraft, and spacecraft have often been featured in movies. Some hard science fiction books focus on the technical details of the craft, while others treat the spacecraft as a given and delve little into its actual implementation. This is a list of fictional spacecraft, starships, and exo-atmospheric vessels that have been identified by name in published works of fiction (novels, films, television series, etc). ... One of the fictional ships called the Starship Enterprise from Star Trek, one of the most famous fictional starships. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... This article is in need of attention. ... This article is about the literary concept. ... Hard science fiction is a category of science fiction characterized by an emphasis on scientific or technical detail, or on scientific accuracy, or on both. ... For other uses, see Book (disambiguation). ...

Notable spacecraft:

See also: List of fictional spaceships

• The Death Star, Millennium Falcon, Star Destroyer, X-Wing and TIE Fighter from the Star Wars science-fiction universe.
• USS Enterprise and Klingon Bird of Prey from the Star Trek franchise.
• The Liberator and Scorpio from the British science fiction television series Blake's 7.
• The TARDIS from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who.
• Discovery One from 2001: A Space Odyssey
• The Battlestar Galactica from the original and re-imagined series of the same name.
• Daedalus class battlecruiser from the television series Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis.
• USS Saratoga (SCVN-2812) from the television series Space: Above and Beyond.
• Serenity from the television series Firefly
• The UNSC In Amber Clad, Forward Unto Dawn and Pillar of Autumn from the Halo video game series

Unidentified flying objects:
Some people believe that Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) may be alien spacecraft (that is, not of human construction and not originating from Earth), sometimes referred to as flying saucers. But the term UFO used here in this context refers to observed flying objects for which no identification has been made, though other meanings for the word UFO exist. To date, no known, independently verifiable examples of alien spacecraft are known to exist. This is a list of fictional spacecraft, starships, and exo-atmospheric vessels that have been identified by name in published works of fiction (novels, films, television series, etc). ... The Death Star is a fictional planet-destroying superweapon as well as an enormous mobile military garrison in the Star Wars universe. ... The Millennium Falcon is a fictional spacecraft in the Star Wars universe commanded by smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and his Wookiee firstmate, Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew). ... A group of Imperial Star Destroyers. ... X-wing fighters on their way into battle in a still from Star Wars. ... TIE Fighter, see X-wing computer game series. ... This article is about the series. ... Enterprise or USS Enterprise are the names of several fictional starships, some of which are the focal point for various television series and films in the Star Trek franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. ... Klingon starships are fictional spacecraft that appear in the television and film installments of the fictional universe of Star Trek. ... The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series and media franchise. ... The spaceship Liberator is a fictional starship featured in the first three seasons of the BBC television series Blakes 7. ... The Scorpio was a spaceship featured throughout the fourth season of the science fiction television series Blakes 7. ... Blakes 7 is a British science fiction television series made by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for their BBC 1 channel. ... The current TARDIS prop as seen at the BBC Wales reception in 2005. ... For other uses, see Doctor Who (disambiguation). ... A Battlestar from the original series A Battlestar (the Battlestar Galactica) from the re-imagined series, flight pods retracted for FTL travel For other uses, see Battlestar (disambiguation). ... The Battlestar Galactica is a fictional spaceship and the primary setting in the original Battlestar Galactica television series and film, and its subsequent ongoing re-imagining in 2003. ... This article is about the original television series; for other versions, see the main Battlestar Galactica page or Battlestar Galactica (disambiguation). ... The Battlestar Galactica science fiction franchise, which began as a 1978 TV series, was reimagined in 2003 into the TV miniseries. ... The Daedalus-class battlecruiser is a fictional starship in the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. ... Stargate SG-1 (often abbreviated as SG-1) is a science fiction television series, part of the Stargate franchise. ... Stargate Atlantis (often abbreviated as SGA) is an American-Canadian science fiction television program, part of the Stargate franchise owned by MGM. Developed by longtime SG-1 producers Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper, it is a spin-off from the television series Stargate SG-1. ... The USS Saratoga is a fictional capital ship/mother ship in the television series Space: Above and Beyond and is the home base for the 58th Marine Fighter Squadron. ... Space: Above and Beyond was a short-lived 1990s American science fiction television show, created and written by Glen Morgan and James Wong. ... For other uses, see Serenity Serenity is a fictional spaceship originally featured in the science fiction television series Firefly. ... For the science fiction television series, see Firefly (TV series). ... United Nations Space Corps Defense Force Emblem. ... The UNSC FFG-142 In Amber Clad is a large human spacecraft in the Halo series of video games and books. ... The Pillar of Autumn is a heavily modified United Nations Space Command Halcyon-class cruiser in the Halo: Combat Evolved video game. ... Look up halo in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... UFO redirects here. ... “Green people” redirects here. ... UFO redirects here. ... UFO can mean: Unidentified flying object UFO:UFOs in fiction United Future Organization, a Japanese-Brazilian electronic jazz band UFO (band), the rock band that previously featured Michael Schenker UFO (TV series), the Gerry Anderson TV series United Farmers of Ontario, a political party that formed the government in Ontario...

Spacecraft in art

The Mare Nostrum Spaceship is the central element of the Space art group El Club de los Astronautas. The group has worked out a utopian plan for the spacecraft and they are going to adopt and actualize the plan over time as technologies will develop to turn the plan into reality. Mare Nostrum represents a series of projects in the scientific, social and economic world that are building the foundation to its construction. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Astronomical art. ... Extra, the alien from El Club de los Astronautas. ...

Examples of spacecraft

Main article: List of spacecraft

Theses are links to several different lists of spacecraft. ...

Manned spacecraft

See also: Human spaceflight

Orbital

A Russian Soyuz bringing a crew to the ISS.

See also: Orbital spaceflight

• Apollo Spacecraft
• Gemini Spacecraft
• International Space Station
• Mercury Spacecraft
• Manned Maneuvering Unit - world's smallest manned spacecraft
• Mir
• Salyut
• Shuttle Buran
• Shenzhou Spacecraft
• Skylab
• Soyuz Spacecraft
• Space Shuttle
• Voskhod Spacecraft
• Vostok Spacecraft

Suborbital

See also: Suborbital spaceflight

• SpaceShipOne (commercial) suborbital
• X-15 suborbital

Edward White on a spacewalk during the Gemini 4 mission. ... Download high resolution version (3032x2008, 2737 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (3032x2008, 2737 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Soyuz (Russian: Союз, pronounced sah-YOUS, meaning union) is a series of spacecraft designed by Sergey Korolyov for the Soviet Unions space program. ... “ISS” redirects here. ... An orbital spaceflight (or orbital flight) in the general sense is a spaceflight where the trajectory of a spacecraft reaches the height of, and through having an appropriate velocity enters into, orbit around an astronomical body. ... Apollo Spacecraft: Command Module, Service Module, Lunar Module. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Project Gemini was the second human spaceflight program of the United States of America. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... “ISS” redirects here. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... Project Mercury was the first human spaceflight program of the United States. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... U.S. astronaut Bruce McCandless uses a manned maneuvering unit A Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) is a rocket pack (propulsion backpack that snaps onto the back of the spacesuit) which has been used on spacewalks (EVAs) from NASAs space shuttle, allowing an astronaut to move independently from the shuttle. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Mir (Russian: ; lit. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... The Salyut (Russian: Салют, Salute or Firework) program was a series of space stations launched by the Soviet Union in the 1970s. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The Shuttle Buran, serial number 11F35 K1, was the only space shuttle to come out of the Shuttle Buran program that was completed. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... Shenzhou (Chinese: ; Pinyin: ) is a spacecraft from the Peoples Republic of China which first carried a Chinese astronaut into orbit on October 15, 2003. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... For other uses, see Skylab (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Soyuz (Russian: Союз, pronounced sah-YOUS, meaning union) is a series of spacecraft designed by Sergey Korolyov for the Soviet Unions space program. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... NASAs Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States governments current manned launch vehicle. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Voskhod (Восход, Voschod, or Wosschod, translated as Rising) was a spacecraft built by the Soviet Unions space program for human spaceflight (see Voskhod programme). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The Vostok (Восток, translated as East) was a type of spacecraft built by the Soviet Unions space program for human spaceflight. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... A sub-orbital spaceflight (or sub-orbital flight) is a spaceflight where the spacecraft trajectory intersects the atmosphere and thus does not enter a stable orbit. ... SpaceShipOne is small, having a three-person cabin and short but wide wings. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Description Role: Research Aircraft Crew: one, pilot Dimensions Length: 50. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ...

Unmanned spacecraft

Main article: Robotic spacecraft

See also: Space probe  and Boilerplate (rocketry)

Earth Orbit

The Hubble Space Telescope.

• Buran Soviet shuttle (one mission only)
• Explorer 1 - first US satellite
• Progress - unmanned USSR/Russia cargo spacecraft
• Project SCORE - first communications satellite
• SOHO
• Sputnik 1 - world's first artificial satellite
• Sputnik 2 - first animal in orbit (Laika)
• Sputnik 5 - first capsule recovered from orbit (Vostok precursor) - animals survived
• STEREO - Earth environment observation
• Syncom - first geosynchronous communications satellite

Lunar

• Clementine - US Navy mission, orbited Moon, detected hydrogen at the poles
• Luna 1 - first lunar flyby
• Luna 2 - first lunar impact
• Luna 3 - first images of lunar far side
• Luna 9 - first soft landing on the Moon
• Luna 10 - first lunar orbiter
• Luna 16 - first unmanned lunar sample retrieval
• Lunar Orbiter - very successful series of lunar mapping spacecraft
• Lunar Prospector - confirmed detection of hydrogen at the lunar poles
• SMART-1 ESA - Lunar Impact
• Surveyor - first USA soft lander

Planetary

Cassini-Huygens entering Saturn's orbit.

• Cassini-Huygens - first Saturn orbiter + Titan lander
• Galileo - first Jupiter orbiter+descent probe
• Mariner 4 - first Mars flyby, first close up images
• Mariner 9 - first Mars orbiter
• Mariner 10 - first Mercury flyby, first close up images
• Mars Exploration Rover - a Mars rover
• Mars Global Surveyor - a Mars orbiter
• MESSENGER - first Mercury orbiter (arrival 2011)
• Mars Pathfinder - a Mars lander + rover
• Pioneer 10 - first Jupiter flyby, first close up images
• Pioneer 11 - second Jupiter flyby + first Saturn flyby (first close up images of Saturn)
• Pioneer Venus - first Venus orbiter+landers
• New Horizons - first Pluto flyby (arrival 2015)
• Venera 4 - first soft landing on another planet (Venus)
• Viking 1 - first soft landing on Mars
• Voyager 2 - Jupiter flyby + Saturn flyby + first flybys/images of Neptune and Uranus

Other - deep space

Main article: Space probe

• Cluster
• Deep Space 1
• Deep Impact (space mission)
• Genesis
• Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous
• Stardust
• WMAP

Fastest spacecraft

• Helios I & II Solar Probes (252,792 km/h).

Furthest spacecraft from Earth

• Voyager 1 at 9.5824234 billion miles.
• Pioneer 10 at 8.3445237 billion miles.
• Voyager 2 at 7.4351695 billion miles.

Heaviest spacecraft

• NASA STS Space Shuttle/Orbiter - 109,000 kg or 120 tons (US).

An artists interpretation of the MESSENGER spacecraft at Mercury A robotic spacecraft is a spacecraft with no humans on board, that is usually under telerobotic control. ... Technicians work on the Ulysses space probe. ... Boilerplate version of Gemini spacecraft on display at Air Force Space and Missile Museum, Cape Canaveral, Florida October 15, 2004. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (945x766, 76 KB) Hubble Space Telescope as seen from the Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-82. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (945x766, 76 KB) Hubble Space Telescope as seen from the Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-82. ... The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a telescope in orbit around the Earth, named after astronomer Edwin Hubble. ... The Buran spacecraft, serial number 11F35 K1, was the only fully completed and operational space shuttle from the Soviet Unions Buran program. ... Explorer-I, officially known as Satellite 1958 Alpha, was the first United States Earth satellite and was sent aloft as part of the United States program for the International Geophysical Year 1957-1958. ... ISS Progress cargo spacecraft The Progress is a Russian expendable freighter spacecraft. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) is a spacecraft that was launched on an Atlas IIAS launch vehicle on 2 December 1995 to study the Sun, and began normal operations in May 1996. ... Sputnik 1 (Russian: , Satellite-1, or literally Co-traveler-1 byname ПС-1 (PS-1, i. ... Sputnik 2 (Russian: , Satellite 2) was the second spacecraft launched into Earth orbit, on November 3, 1957, and the first to carry a living animal - a dog named Laika. ... For other uses, see Laika (disambiguation). ... Sputnik 5 was a USSR artificial Earth satellite from the Sputnik space program, launched on August 19, 1960. ... Vostok (Russian: , translated as East) may refer to one of the following. ... This article is about the spacecraft and the mission. ... Syncom (for synchronous communication satellite) started as a 1961 NASA program for active geosynchronous communication satellites, all of which were developed and manufactured by Hughes Space and Communications. ... Box of Clementines with hand for size reference. ... Luna 1 is the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and the first of the Luna programme of Soviet automatic interplanetary stations successfully launched in the direction of the Moon. ... Luna 2 (E-1A series) was the second of the Soviet Unions Luna program spacecraft launched in the direction of the Moon. ... Luna 3 (E-3 series) was the third spacecraft sent successfully to the moon and was an early triumph in the human exploration of outer space. ... Luna 9 (E-6 series), also known as Lunik 9 (internal name E-6 N. 13), was an unmanned space mission of the Soviet Unions Luna program. ... Luna 10 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 10. ... Luna 16 (Ye-8-5 series) was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 16. ... Lunar orbiter spacecraft (NASA) The Lunar Orbiter program was a series of five unmanned Lunar orbiter missions launched by the United States in 1966 through 1967 with the purpose of mapping the lunar surface before the Apollo landings. ... NASAs Lunar Prospector The Lunar Prospector mission was the third selected by NASA for full development and construction as part of the Discovery Program. ... SMART-1. ... Photograph of Surveyor(3) lunar landing spacecraft taken by Apollo 12 astronauts (descriptions added). ... Original Caption Released with Image: This is an artists concept of Cassini during the Saturn Orbit Insertion (SOI) maneuver, just after the main engine has begun firing. ... Original Caption Released with Image: This is an artists concept of Cassini during the Saturn Orbit Insertion (SOI) maneuver, just after the main engine has begun firing. ... Cassini-Huygens is a joint NASA/ESA/ASI unmanned space mission intended to study Saturn and its moons. ... This article is about the planet. ... Cassini-Huygens is a joint NASA/ESA/ASI unmanned space mission intended to study Saturn and its moons. ... This article is about the planet. ... Titan (, from Ancient Greek Τῑτάν) or Saturn VI is the largest moon of Saturn and the only moon known to have a dense atmosphere. ... Galileo is prepared for mating with the IUS booster Galileo being deployed after being launched by the Space Shuttle Atlantis on the STS-34 mission Galileo was an unmanned spacecraft sent by NASA to study the planet Jupiter and its moons. ... For other uses, see Jupiter (disambiguation). ... Mariner 4 (Mariner-Mars 1964) was the fourth in a series of spacecraft used for planetary exploration in a flyby mode and performed the first successful flyby of the planet Mars, returning the first pictures of the Martian surface. ... Adjectives: Martian Atmosphere Surface pressure: 0. ... Mariner 9 launch Mariner 9 (Mariner Mars 71 / Mariner-I) was a NASA space probe orbiter that helped in the exploration of Mars and was part of the Mariner program. ... An orbiter is a spacecraft that orbits a planet or moon without landing on it in order to study the objects surface from a safe distance. ... The Mariner 10 probe. ... This article is about the planet. ... Artists Concept of Rover on Mars (credit: Maas Digital LLC) NASAs Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Mission is an ongoing robotic mission of exploring Mars, that began in 2003 with the sending of two rovers — Spirit and Opportunity — to explore the Martian surface and geology. ... The Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) was a US spacecraft developed by NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and launched November 1996. ... This article is about the NASA space mission. ... The Mars Pathfinder was launched on December 4, 1996 by NASA aboard a Delta II just a month after the Mars Global Surveyor was launched. ... Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to travel through the asteroid belt, and was the first spacecraft to make direct observations of Jupiter. ... For other uses, see Jupiter (disambiguation). ... Position of Pioneer 10 and 11 Pioneer 11 was the second mission to investigate Jupiter and the outer solar system and the first to explore the planet Saturn and its main rings. ... For other uses, see Jupiter (disambiguation). ... The Pioneer mission to Venus consisted of two components, launched separately: an Orbiter and a Multiprobe. ... Adjectives: Venusian or (rarely) Cytherean Atmosphere Surface pressure: 9. ... New Horizons on the launchpad New Horizons is a robotic spacecraft mission conducted by NASA. It is expected to be the first spacecraft to fly by and study the dwarf planet Pluto and its moons, Charon, Nix and Hydra. ... For other uses, see Pluto (disambiguation). ... Venera 4 Venera 4 landing capsule Venera 4 (Russian:Венера-4) was a probe in the Soviet Venera program for the exploration of Venus. ... The Viking 1 was the first of two spacecraft sent to Mars as part of NASAs Viking program. ... Trajectory Voyager 2 is an unmanned interplanetary spacecraft, launched on August 20, 1977. ... For other uses, see Neptune (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Uranus (disambiguation). ... Technicians work on the Ulysses space probe. ... Cluster satellite FM2 The Cluster mission is an European Space Agency (ESA) unmanned space mission mission to study the Earths magnetosphere using four identical spacecraft flying in a tetrahedral formation. ... The spacecraft Deep Space 1 was launched October 24, 1998 on top of a Delta II rocket. ... Illustration of the Deep Impact space probe after impactor separation (artists conception) Deep Impact is a NASA space probe designed to study the composition of the interior of the comet Tempel 1. ... In its collecting configuration, the Genesis spacecraft exposed collecting wafers to the solar wind. ... Artists conception of the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft Near Earth Asteroid Eros as seen from the NEAR spacecraft. ... An artists rendering of Stardust (NASA image) The Stardust capsule with cometary and interstellar samples landed at the U.S. Air Force Utah Test and Training Range at 10:10 UTC (15 January 2006) in the Bonneville Salt Flats. ... Artist depiction of the WMAP satellite at the L2 point The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) is a NASA satellite whose mission is to survey the sky to measure the temperature of the radiant heat left over from the Big Bang. ... Prototype of the Helios spacecraft Helios I sitting atop its Titan IIIE Centaur launcher (LC-41, CCAFS, 1974) The Helios deep space probes were launched in the mid 1970s by the Federal Republic of Germany and NASA, using US Air Force launch vehicles. ... For the album by The Verve, see Voyager 1 (album). ... Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to travel through the asteroid belt, and was the first spacecraft to make direct observations of Jupiter. ... Trajectory Voyager 2 is an unmanned interplanetary spacecraft, launched on August 20, 1977. ... This article is about the American space agency. ... NASAs Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States governments current manned launch vehicle. ... NASAs Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States governments current manned launch vehicle. ...

Spacecraft under development

The proposed Crew Exploration Vehicle approaching the Moon.

The Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV)

• Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV)
• Orion spacecraft
• Kliper - Russian ' Clipper '
• H-II Transfer Vehicle
• India Chandrayan-1 lunar probe
• CNES Mars Netlander
• James Webb Space Telescope (delayed)
• Kepler Mission Planet Searcher
• ESA Darwin probe
• Herschel Space Observatory
• Mars Science Laboratory rover
• Shenzhou Cargo
• Terrestrial Planet Finder probe
• X-37

Image File history File links Cev_with_lander. ... Image File history File links Cev_with_lander. ... CEV with lunar lander CEV during a landing on earth CEV rocket, the Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV) (right) along side the heavy-lift Cargo Launch Vehicle (CaLV) rocket. ... This article is about Earths moon. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Atv. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Atv. ... Water tank Fuel tank An Automated Transfer Vehicle or ATV is an unmanned resupply spacecraft developed by the European Space Agency (ESA)[1]. ATVs are designed to supply the International Space Station with propellant, water, air, payload and experiments. ... Water tank Fuel tank An Automated Transfer Vehicle or ATV is an unmanned resupply spacecraft developed by the European Space Agency (ESA)[1]. ATVs are designed to supply the International Space Station with propellant, water, air, payload and experiments. ... Orion spacecraft in lunar orbit Orion spacecraft with docked LSAM lunar lander Orion spacecraft approaching the ISS Orion during a landing on Earth The Orion Spacecraft (formerly known as the Crew Exploration Vehicle or CEV) is a proposed series of American manned and unmanned spacecraft, intended to replace the Space... Russian media coverage of Kliper spacecraft - Russias Channel One TV network. ... H-II Transfer Vehicle (Courtesy of JAXA) The H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) is an unmanned spacecraft on which the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA has been working since 1997 to resupply the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) on the International Space Station, and the rest of the station, if... Chandrayaan I Chandrayaan I (Means Journey to Moon (Chandra=Moon, yaan=Spacecraft) in Sanskrit and Hindi languages) is the name for a mission of the Indian space agency to send an unmanned spacecraft to the Moon which will then take a polar orbit around. ... The Centre National dÉtudes Spatiales is the French government space agency (administratively, a public establishment of industrial and commercial character). Its headquarters are located in central Paris. ... The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a planned space infrared observatory, intended to be a significant improvement on the aging Hubble Space Telescope. ... The Kepler Mission is a space observatory being developed by NASA that will search for extrasolar planets and will only be the second space-based telescope particularly constructed for that task, the first one being COROT. For this purpose, it will observe the brightness of about 100,000 stars over... Darwin is a proposed European Space Agency (ESA) mission designed to directly detect Earth-like planets orbiting nearby stars, and search for evidence of life on these planets. ... The Herschel Space Observatory is a mission of the European Space Agency. ... 2007 Mars Science Laboratory concept Schematic diagram of the planned rover components The Mars Science Laboratory (or MSL for short) is a NASA rover scheduled to launch in September 2009 and perform a precision landing on Mars in July-September 2010. ... Shenzhou (Chinese: 神舟; pinyin: Shénzhōu) is the name of a spacecraft from the Peoples Republic of China which first carried a Chinese astronaut into orbit in 2003. ... Terrestrial Planet Finder - Infrared interferometer concept The Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) is a plan by NASA for a telescope system that would be capable of detecting extrasolar terrestrial planets. ... The Boeing X-37 is a demonstration spaceplane that is intended to test future launch technologies while in orbit and during atmospheric reentry. ...

Unfunded/Cancelled spacecraft programs

Multi-stage

• Chinese Project 921-3 Shuttle
• ESA Hermes Shuttle
• Soviet Buran Shuttle
• Soyuz Kontakt
• Teledesic
• Manned Orbiting Laboratory
• X-20

SSTO

• Skylon and the earlier RR/British Aerospace HOTOL
• ESA Hopper Orbiter
• McDonnell Douglas DC-X (Delta Clipper)
• Roton Rotored-Hybrid
• Lockheed-Martin VentureStar

Project 921-3 is a Chinese space shuttle project. ... Artists impression of the Hermes Shuttle A cutaway view of the Hermes Shuttle Hermes was a proposed mini-shuttle designed by the European Space Agency which was superficially similar to the US X-20. ... Illustration of the Buran Shuttle on an Energiya booster rocket Buran_Energia on the launch pad at Baikonur Buran_Energia on the pad Buran on liftoff Buran on touchdown Buran piggybacked on an An-225 carrier The Soviet reusable spacecraft program Buran (Бура́н meaning snowstorm or blizzard... Teledesic was a 1990s proposal to build a commercial broadband satellite constellation for Internet services. ... Manned Orbiting Laboratory early 1960 conceptual drawing that did not use the Gemini spacecraft. ... Artists conception of the X-20 during re-entry The X-20 Dyna-Soar was a USAF program to develop an orbital spaceplane that could be used for a variety of military missions including reconnaissance, bombing, space rescue, satellite maintenance, and sabotage of enemy satellites. ... A single-stage to orbit (or SSTO) launcher describes an as-yet theoretical class of spacecraft designed to place a load into orbit as a self-contained vehicle without the use of multiple stages. ... The Skylon Spaceplane For other uses of the word Skylon, see Skylon (disambiguation) Skylon is a plausible design by top British rocket scientist Alan Bond for an aeroplane that would be able to fly into low earth orbit, and return, completely intact. ... HOTOL, for Horizontal Take-Off and Landing, was an unrealised British space shuttle proposal. ... Hopper is a proposed European Space Agency orbital craft. ... The Delta Clipper Advanced The McDonnell Douglas DC-X, better known as the Delta Clipper or Delta Clipper Experimental, was an unmanned prototype of a reusable single stage to orbit launch vehicle developed in conjunction with NASA and the DOD SDIO from 1991 to 1993. ... The Roton was a launch vehicle design for a cone-shaped single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) fully reusable manned spacecraft. ... VentureStar VentureStar was Lockheed-Martins proposed design for a SSTO RLV. The programs primary goal was to develop a reusable unmanned space plane for launching satellites into orbit at about 1/10 the cost of other systems that would completely replace the space shuttle. ...

See also

Spaceflight Portal

Look up spacecraft in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• List of spaceflights
• Spacecraft design
• Space exploration
• Spaceflight records
• Starship
• Ansari X Prize
• Atmospheric reentry

Image File history File links Portal. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wiktionary (a portmanteau of wiki and dictionary) is a multilingual, Web-based project to create a free content dictionary, available in over 150 languages. ... This is a list of all spaceflights, both manned and unmanned, sorted chronologically by launch date. ... The design of spacecraft covers a broad area, to include unmanned spacecraft design (satellites and planetary probes), and manned spacecraft design (spaceships and space stations). ... Space exploration is the physical exploration of outer space, both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... One of the fictional ships called the Starship Enterprise from Star Trek, one of the most famous fictional starships. ... For other uses, see X Prize (disambiguation). ... “Reentry” redirects here. ...

References

1. ^ The Rosetta ground segment. ESA.

Wertz, James; Wiley J. Larson (1999). Space Mission Analysis and Design, ISBN 978-1881883104, Third Edition, Torrance, CA: Microcosm, Inc.. 

External links

• NASA: Space Science Spacecraft Missions
• NSSDC Master Catalog Spacecraft Query Form
• Will Knight, "Spacecraft skin 'heals' itself". January 2006, NewScientist.com.
• Early History of Spacecraft
• Basics of Spaceflight - tutorial from JPL/Caltech, JPL D-20120, CL-03-0371 Dave Doody, February 2001