Spacecraft

More than 140 Soviet and Russian crewed Soyuz spacecraft (TMA version shown) have flown since 1967 and now support the International Space Station

A spacecraft is a vehicle that is designed to fly and operate in outer space.[1] Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, Earth observation, meteorology, navigation, space colonization, planetary exploration, and transportation of humans and cargo. All spacecraft except single-stage-to-orbit vehicles cannot get into space on their own, and require a launch vehicle (carrier rocket).

On a sub-orbital spaceflight, a space vehicle enters space and then returns to the surface without having gained sufficient energy or velocity to make a full Earth orbit. For orbital spaceflights, spacecraft enter closed orbits around the Earth or around other celestial bodies. Spacecraft used for human spaceflight carry people on board as crew or passengers from start or on orbit (space stations) only, whereas those used for robotic space missions operate either autonomously or telerobotically. Robotic spacecraft used to support scientific research are space probes. Robotic spacecraft that remain in orbit around a planetary body are artificial satellites. To date, only a handful of interstellar probes, such as Pioneer 10 and 11, Voyager 1 and 2, and New Horizons,are on trajectories that leave the Solar System.

Orbital spacecraft may be recoverable or not. Most are not. Recoverable spacecraft may be subdivided by a method of reentry to Earth into non-winged space capsules and winged spaceplanes. Recoverable spacecraft may be reusable (can be launched again or several times, like the SpaceX Dragon and the Space Shuttle orbiters) or expendable (like the Soyuz). In recent years, more space agencies are tending towards reusable spacecraft.

Humanity has achieved space flight, but only a few nations have the technology for orbital launches: Russia (Roscosmos[2]), the United States (NASA[3]), the member states of the European Space Agency,[4] Japan (JAXA[5]), China (CNSA[6]), India (ISRO[7]), Taiwan (TSA[8][9][10]), Israel (ISA), Iran (ISA), and North Korea (NADA). In addition, several private companies have developed or are developing the technology for orbital launches independently from government agencies. The most prominent examples of such companies are SpaceX and Blue Origin.

  1. ^ "Spacecraft | Definition, Types, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Russia is back on the lunar path. A rocket blasts off on its first moon mission in nearly 50 years". AP News. 10 August 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  3. ^ Wattles, Elise Hammond,Jackie (22 February 2024). "Odysseus becomes first US spacecraft to land on moon in over 50 years". CNN. Retrieved 13 July 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Euclid". www.esa.int. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Japan becomes the fifth country to land a spacecraft on the moon". AP News. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  6. ^ Robert Lea (3 June 2024). "Watch China's Chang'e 6 probe land on far side of the moon in dramatic video". Space.com. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Spacecraft Missions". www.isro.gov.in. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Taiwan's upgraded 'Cloud Peak' mi... – Taiwan News". Taiwan News. 25 January 2018.
  9. ^ "Taiwan To Upgrade 'Cloud Peak' Medium-range Missiles For Micro-Satellites Launch". www.defenseworld.net.
  10. ^ Sheldon, John (30 January 2018). "Taiwan's New Ballistic Missile Capable of Launching Microsatellites – SpaceWatch.Global". spacewatch.global.