Russian - three person Earth orbital spacecraft;[1] Early versions were operated by the Soviet Union and later versions by Russia after 1991. As of March 2019 Soyuz has made 140 crewed spaceflights, including two emergency sub-orbital flights, Soyuz 18a and Soyuz MS-10. There have been 2 accidental spacecraft losses resulting in the deaths of four cosmonauts, Soyuz 1 and Soyuz 11. Soyuz is the only spacecraft to have successfully saved the lives of a crew using the rocket launch escape system, when in 1983 Soyuz T-10-1 exploded on the launchpad. This spacecraft type has flown into space more times than any other spacecraft, including the Space Shuttle.[2]
Chinese three person Earth orbital spacecraft. 6 flights as of April 2018. Shenzhou is China's first crewed spacecraft. On 13 October 2003 Yang Liwei was carried into space by Shenzhou 5 becoming China's first Taikonaut.[3]
United States 8 person air-launched suborbital space plane operated by Virgin Galactic aimed at the space tourism market. On 31 October 2014 during a test flight, VSS Enterprise, the first SpaceShipTwo craft, broke up in flight and crashed in the Mojave desert.[4][5][6][7] One pilot was killed[8][9] The second SpaceShipTwo spacecraft, VSS Unity, was unveiled on 19 February 2016.[10][11] On 13 December 2018 SpaceShipTwo flew to an alttude of 82.7 km which is recognised as space by the FAA, NASA, and the USAF (although not the FAI)[12] This was the first time an American spacecraft had sent astronauts to space since the final Space Shuttle flight in 2011.
VSS Unity flew to space again on 22 February 2019 to an apogee of 89.9 km (55.97 miles). Onboard was astronaut Dave Mackay, Michael Masucci and Beth Moses. This again met the United States definition of space, though not the FAI's. Despite this, because it is a US spaceflight launched from the United States to its definition of space, it is indeed a spaceflight.
Multinational low earth orbit modular space station. The International Space Station is a joint project among five participating space agencies: NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, and CSA.[13] Uncrewed initial assembly 1998-2000. Continuously crewed since November 2000. As of March 2019 ISS has been visited by 94 crewed spacecraft (59 Soyuz and 35 Space Shuttle). The ISS is the largest space station yet constructed. Planned to operate until 2024, with a possible extension to 2028.[14]
United States single-person Earth orbital spacecraft[18] 6 flights (including 2 sub-orbital). Mercury was the United States first crewed spacecraft. On 5 May 1961 Mercury-Redstone 3 carried the first American, Alan Shepard, into space on a sub-orbital flight. On 20 February 1962 Mercury-Atlas 6 carried the first American, John Glenn, into Earth orbit.[19]
United States single seat, air-launched spaceplane; two X-15 flights above the 100 km Kármán line occurred in 1963, an additional 11 flights between 1962 and 1968 reached altitudes between 80–100 km which were recognised as spaceflights by US authorities.[20]
Soviet three person Vostok derivative[21] 2 flights. On 18 March 1965 Alexei Leonov performed the first spacewalk in history, from Voskhod 2 - which was also the first multi-crew mission.[22]
United States three person Lunar capable spacecraft. 15 flights; including nine lunar missions (with six lunar landings). It was the Apollo spacecraft that enabled America to win the Space Race. In December 1968 Apollo 8 was the first crewed spacecraft to orbit the Moon. On 21 July 1969 Neil Armstrong, the Commander of Apollo 11, and Buzz Aldrin became the first persons to walk on the Moon.[25] The Apollo Spacecraft comprised
United States eight person Earth orbital spacecraft; first orbit-capable spaceplane; first partially reusable orbital spacecraft. 135 flights were made in five shuttles; Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour, of which two (Challenger and Columbia) were accidentally destroyed resulting in the deaths of 14 astronauts during missions STS-51-L and STS-107.[28]
Soviet military reconnaissance low Earth orbit space stations. Badged as Salyut 3 (1974-1975), and Salyut 5 (1976-1977) as disinformation. Both now de-orbited.[31]
Soviet/Russian low Earth orbit modular space station. The first modular space station in history. 28 crews. Mir was visited by 29 Soyuz and 7 Space Shuttle missions. De-orbited 2001.[33]
United States six person capsule mounted on a reusable vertical launch sub-orbital rocket aimed at the space tourism market. As of May 2019 there have been 11 successful uncrewed flights since 2015, with 10 successful rocket booster landings. First crewed test-flight expected in 2019.
United States seven person Earth orbital spacecraft designed to transport astronauts to the International Space Station under the NASACommercial Crew Contract. Dragon V2 is capable of operating beyond Earth orbit. First crewed flight planned for 2019.[35]
Starship is a United States 100+ person beyond Earth orbit craft launched on the reusable Super Heavy booster.[37][38] The Starship is primarily designed to enable crewed missions to Mars, but could in theory land on any rocky body in the Solar System (except Venus). Elon Musk CEO of SpaceX has stated that test flights are expected to begin in 2019.[39]
United States four person beyond Earth orbit spacecraft.[40] The first crewed flight Exploration Mission 2 is planned to be launched for Lunar orbit on the Space Launch System in 2022.
United States seven person Earth orbital space plane[41] Uncrewed cargo version scheduled to fly in 2020 - a crewed version could subsequently be developed.
Chinese winged rocket - the plane may one day fly up passengers to the edge of space. Two versions: one should be able to fly five people to an altitude of 100 kilometres; other - could fly 20 people to 130 kilometres. Payload launches in 2020.[43]
RSSC - a Russian reusable sub-orbital space complex, currently being developed by a private company KosmoKurs. First flight planned for 2021.[44][45]
Federatsiya - a Russian four person Lunar capable spacecraft. First crewed flight planned for 2024.[46]
Gaganyaan - Indian three person Earth orbital spacecraft intented to be the first spacecraft under Indian Human Spaceflight Programme. Gaganyaan is capable of operating at Low Earth orbit for 7 days. The upgraded version will be equipped with rendezvous and docking capabilities. First crewed flight planned in 2022.
Japanese sub-orbital rocket plane currently being developed by PD Aerospace. First flight planned for 2020 and fully operational by 2023.[47]
Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway (formally the Deep Space Gateway) - NASA proposed international crewed space station orbiting the Moon to be assembled by Orion missions between 2023-2027.[53]
OPSEK, proposed Russian successor to the International Space Station.[54]
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