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.
Spacecraft is a vehicle designed to operate, with or without a crew, in a controlled flight pattern above Earth’s lower atmosphere. Most spacecraft are not self-propelled; they depend on the initial velocity provided by a launch vehicle, which separates from the spacecraft when its task is done.
Spacecraft launch on rockets and have their own propulsion and navigation systems that take over after they separate from the rocket, propelling them to other worlds in our solar system.
Explore our definitive list of spacecraft, including satellites, planetary probes, crewed vehicles, and deep-space missions. Discover detailed information on various spacecraft, their designs, and their historic contributions to space exploration.
An educational site listing all spacecraft from around the world, including pictures, technical details, and mission updates.
Learn about different types of spacecraft, both crewed and uncrewed, used for space exploration.
Orion Spacecraft Races Toward Historic Lunar Flyby in Artemis II Mission by Chris Bergin and Martijn Luinstra
In 2022, the Artemis I mission tested the deep space capabilities of NASA’s Orion spacecraft for the first time as it orbited the Moon and returned safely back to Earth, laying the groundwork for future crewed missions to the Moon and beyond. With the launch of Artemis II on , Orion once again traveled past the skies to the Moon, only this time with four humans on board. The ...