Spacecraft
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| + | [[Image:Le Voyage dans la lune.jpg|200px|thumb|right|''[[A Trip to the Moon]]'' ([[1902]]) [[Georges Méliès]]]] | ||
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| + | A '''spacecraft''' is a vehicle, vessel or machine designed to [[spaceflight|fly in outer space]]. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including [[Telecommunications|communications]], [[Earth observation satellite|earth observation]], [[Weather satellite|meteorology]], [[navigation]], [[Planetary science|planetary exploration]] and [[Space transport|transportation]] of [[human spaceflight|humans]] and [[Unmanned resupply spacecraft|cargo]]. | ||
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| + | On a [[sub-orbital spaceflight]], a spacecraft enters [[outer space|space]] and then returns to the surface, without having gone into an [[orbit]]. For [[orbital spaceflight]]s, spacecraft enter closed orbits around the [[Earth]] or around other [[Astronomical object|celestial bodies]]. Spacecraft used for [[human spaceflight]] carry people on board as crew or passengers from start or on orbit ([[space station]]s) only, while those used for [[robotic space mission]]s operate either [[autonomous robot|autonomously]] or [[telerobotics|telerobotically]]. [[Robotic spacecraft]] used to support scientific research are [[space probe]]s. Robotic spacecraft that remain in orbit around a planetary body are artificial [[satellite]]s. Only a handful of [[interstellar probe]]s, such as [[Pioneer 10]] and [[Pioneer 11|11]], [[Voyager 1]] and [[Voyager 2|2]], and [[New Horizons]], are currently on trajectories that leave our [[Solar System]]. | ||
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| + | Orbital spacecraft may be recoverable or not. By method of [[Atmospheric entry|reentry]] to Earth they may be divided in non-winged [[space capsule]]s and winged [[spaceplane]]s. | ||
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| + | Currently, only twenty-four nations have spaceflight technology: Russia ([[Roscosmos]], the [[Russian Space Forces]]), the [[United States]] ([[NASA]], the [[United States Air Force|US Air Force]], [[SpaceX]] (a U.S private aerospace company)), the member states of the [[European Space Agency]], the [[People's Republic of China]] ([[China National Space Administration]]), Japan ([[Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency]]), and India ([[Indian Space Research Organisation]]). | ||
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| + | Spacecraft and [[Spaceflight|space travel]] are common themes in works of [[science fiction]]. | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| - | * [[Airborne aircraft carrier]] | + | *[[Ansari X Prize]] |
| - | * [[Aircraft carrier]] | + | *[[Astrionics]] |
| - | * [[Composite aircraft]] | + | *[[Atmospheric reentry]] |
| - | * [[Factory ship]] | + | *[[Earth to orbit]] |
| - | * [[Flight deck]] | + | *[[Flying saucers]] |
| - | * ''[[Milchkuh]]'' (German WWII submarine) | + | *[[Fictional spacecraft|List of fictional spacecraft]] |
| - | * [[Military spacecraft in fiction]] | + | *[[List of spaceflights]] |
| - | * [[Parasite aircraft]] | + | *[[Spacecraft design]] |
| - | * [[Spacecraft]] | + | *[[Spacecraft propulsion]] |
| - | * [[Vehicle]] | + | *[[Space exploration]] |
| + | *[[Space suit]] | ||
| + | *[[Spaceflight records]] | ||
| + | *[[Starship]] | ||
| + | *[[Timeline of Solar System exploration]] | ||
| + | *[[U.S. Space Exploration History on U.S. Stamps]] | ||
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A spacecraft is a vehicle, vessel or machine designed to fly in outer space. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo.
On a sub-orbital spaceflight, a spacecraft enters space and then returns to the surface, without having gone into an 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, while 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. Only a handful of interstellar probes, such as Pioneer 10 and 11, Voyager 1 and 2, and New Horizons, are currently on trajectories that leave our Solar System.
Orbital spacecraft may be recoverable or not. By method of reentry to Earth they may be divided in non-winged space capsules and winged spaceplanes.
Currently, only twenty-four nations have spaceflight technology: Russia (Roscosmos, the Russian Space Forces), the United States (NASA, the US Air Force, SpaceX (a U.S private aerospace company)), the member states of the European Space Agency, the People's Republic of China (China National Space Administration), Japan (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), and India (Indian Space Research Organisation).
Spacecraft and space travel are common themes in works of science fiction.
See also
- Ansari X Prize
- Astrionics
- Atmospheric reentry
- Earth to orbit
- Flying saucers
- List of fictional spacecraft
- List of spaceflights
- Spacecraft design
- Spacecraft propulsion
- Space exploration
- Space suit
- Spaceflight records
- Starship
- Timeline of Solar System exploration
- U.S. Space Exploration History on U.S. Stamps
