Spacecraft 37910 225777219 2008-07-15T10:24:38Z JAnDbot 1725149 robot Modifying: bg, cs, eo, tr [[Image:Atlantis Docked to Mir.jpg|thumb|View of the [[Space Shuttle Atlantis]] docked to Russia's [[Mir Space Station]], was photographed by the [[Mir-19]] crew on July 4, 1995]] [[Image:Phoenix landing.jpg|thumb|Artist's conception of the [[Phoenix spacecraft]] as it lands on [[Mars]]]] 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 [[planet]]ary 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 spaceflight]]s carry people on board as crew or passengers. Spacecraft used for [[robotic space mission]]s operate either [[autonomous robot| autonomously]] or [[telerobotics|telerobotically]]. Robotic spacecraft that leave the vicinity of the planetary body are [[space probe]]s. Robotic spacecraft that remain in orbit around the planetary body are artificial [[satellite]]s. [[Starship]]s, which are built for [[interstellar travel]], are so far a theoretical concept only. 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 tourism]]. Spacecraft and [[Spaceflight|space travel]] are common themes in works of [[science fiction]]. ==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. ; Attitude control : Spacecraft need an [[attitude control]] subsystem to be correctly oriented in space and respond to external [[torque]]s and forces properly. The attitude control subsystem consists of [[sensor]]s and [[actuator]]s, 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. ; 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. ; 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 on spacecraft|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. ; 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. [[Image:Proton Zvezda crop.jpg|thumb|A [[launch vehicle]], like this [[Proton rocket]], is typically used to bring a spacecraft to [[orbit]].]] ; Propulsion : Spacecraft may or may not have a [[Spacecraft propulsion|propulsion]] subsystem, depending upon whether or not the mission profile calls for propulsion. The [[Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission|''Swift'']] spacecraft is an example of a spacecraft that does not have a propulsion subsystem. Typically though, LEO spacecraft (for example [[Terra (satellite)|''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 [[thruster]]s. 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. ; 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 [[Celestial body atmosphere|atmosphere of another planetary body]], and landing on the surface of another planetary body. ; 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 ([[camera]]s, [[telescope]]s, or [[Particle Detector|particle detectors]], for example), cargo, or a [[Human spaceflight|human crew]]. ; 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.<ref name="Rosettaground">{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEMDV71PGQD_0.html |title=The Rosetta ground segment |work=ESA.int |date=[[2004-02-17]] |accessdate=2008-02-11}}</ref> ; 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 launch system| expendable]] or [[Reusable launch system| reusable]]. [[Image:Space Shuttle Columbia launching.jpg|thumb|The [[Space Shuttle Columbia]] seconds after engine ignition]] ==Reusable spacecraft== 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 ''[[Space Shuttle Enterprise|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 ''[[Space Shuttle Columbia|Columbia]]'', followed by the ''[[Space Shuttle Challenger|Challenger]]'', ''[[Space Shuttle Discovery|Discovery]]'', ''[[Space Shuttle Atlantis|Atlantis]]'', and ''[[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Endeavour]]''. The ''Endeavour'' was built to replace the ''Challenger'' when it was [[STS-51-L|lost]] in January 1986. The ''Columbia'' [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|broke up]] during reentry in February 2003. The first automatic partially reusable spacecraft was the [[Shuttle Buran|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. 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]]. [[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 2009''. ==Fictional spacecraft== The term spacecraft is mainly used to refer to spacecraft that are real or conceived using present technology. The terms [[List of fictional spaceships|spaceship]] and [[starship]] are generally applied only to fictional spacecraft, usually those capable of [[transport]]ing people. The spaceship is one of the prime elements in [[science fiction]]. Numerous [[short story|short stories]] and [[novel]]s are built up around various ideas for spacecraft, and spacecraft have often been featured in movies. Some [[hard science fiction]] [[book]]s focus on the technical details of the craft, while others treat the spacecraft as a given and delve little into its actual implementation. [[Image:Nostromo054.JPG|thumb|USCSS [[Nostromo (spaceship)|Nostromo]], the fictional spaceship from [[Alien (film)|Alien]], towing a massive ore refinery.]] ; Notable fictional spacecraft: {{see also|List of fictional spaceships}} * USCSS ''[[Nostromo (spaceship)|Nostromo]]'' and USS ''[[Sulaco (spaceship)|Sulaco]]'' from the ''[[Alien (franchise)|Alien]]'' science-fiction universe. * The [[Death Star]], [[Millennium Falcon]], [[Star Destroyer]], [[X-Wing]] and [[TIE Fighter]] from the ''[[Star Wars]]'' science-fiction universe. * USS ''[[Starship Enterprise|Enterprise]]'' and [[Klingon starships|Klingon Bird of Prey]] from the [[Star Trek]] franchise. * The ''[[Liberator (Blake's 7)|Liberator]]'' and ''[[Scorpio (Blake's 7)|Scorpio]]'' from the [[United Kingdom|British]] science fiction television series ''[[Blake's 7]]''. *The [[TARDIS]] from the [[United Kingdom|British]] science fiction television series ''[[Doctor Who]]''. *''[[Discovery One]]'' from ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' *The [[Battlestar]] ''[[Battlestar Galactica (ship)|Galactica]]'' from the [[Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series)|original]] and [[Battlestar Galactica (re-imagining)|re-imagined]] series of the same name. *[[Daedalus class battlecruiser|''Daedalus'' class battlecruiser]] from the television series ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' and ''[[Stargate Atlantis]]''. *USS ''[[USS Saratoga (SCVN-2812)|Saratoga]]'' (SCVN-2812) from the television series ''[[Space: Above and Beyond]]''. *''[[Serenity (Firefly vessel)|Serenity]]'' from the television series [[Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]] *''Starbug, Blue Midget, and Red Dwarf from the [[BBC]] [[comedy]] science fiction series: [[Red Dwarf]]. *The [[UNSC]] [[In Amber Clad]], [[Forward Unto Dawn]] and [[Pillar of Autumn]] from the [[Halo (series)|Halo]] video game series. *The [[SSV]] [[Normandy]], from the [[Mass Effect]] video game. ; Unidentified flying objects: Some people believe that [[Unidentified flying object|Unidentified Flying Objects]] (UFOs) may be [[Extraterrestrial life|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 [[UFO (disambiguation)|other meanings for the word UFO]] exist. To date, no known, independently verifiable examples of alien spacecraft are known to exist. ==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. ==Examples of spacecraft== {{Main | List of spacecraft}} ===Manned spacecraft=== {{See also | Human spaceflight}} ; Orbital: {{See also | Orbital spaceflight}} [[Image:Apollo CSM lunar orbit.jpg|thumb|The [[Apollo 15]] Command/Service Module as viewed from the [[Lunar Module]] on August 2, 1971.]] [[Image:Soyuz TMA-6 spacecraft.jpg|thumb|A Russian [[Soyuz spacecraft|Soyuz]] bringing a crew to the [[International Space Station|ISS]]]] *[[Apollo spacecraft|Apollo Spacecraft]] {{flagicon|USA}} *[[Project Gemini|Gemini Spacecraft]] {{flagicon|USA}} *[[International Space Station]] {{flagicon|USA}} {{flagicon|Russia}} {{flagicon|Europe}} {{flagicon|Japan}} {{flagicon|Canada}} {{flagicon|Brazil}} *[[Project Mercury|Mercury Spacecraft]] {{flagicon|USA}} *[[Manned Maneuvering Unit]] {{flagicon|USA}} - world's smallest manned spacecraft *[[Mir]] {{flagicon|USSR}} {{flagicon|Russia}} *[[Salyut]] {{flagicon|USSR}} *[[Shuttle Buran]] {{flagicon|USSR}} *[[Shenzhou spacecraft|Shenzhou Spacecraft]] {{flagicon|China}} *[[Skylab]] {{flagicon|USA}} *[[Soyuz spacecraft|Soyuz Spacecraft]] {{flagicon|USSR}} {{flagicon|Russia}} *[[Space Shuttle]] {{flagicon|USA}} *[[Voskhod spacecraft|Voskhod Spacecraft]] {{flagicon|USSR}} *[[Vostok spacecraft|Vostok Spacecraft]] {{flagicon|USSR}} ; Suborbital: {{See also | Suborbital spaceflight}} *[[SpaceShipOne]] {{flagicon|USA}} (commercial) suborbital *[[X-15]] {{flagicon|USA}} suborbital ===Unmanned spacecraft=== {{Main | Robotic spacecraft}} {{See also | Space probe | Boilerplate (rocketry)}} ; Earth Orbit [[Image:Hubble 01.jpg|thumb|The [[Hubble Space Telescope]]]] [[Image:Iss016e034191.jpg|thumb|The [[Jules Verne ATV|Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV)]] approaches the [[International Space Station]] on Monday, March 31, 2008]] *[[Automated Transfer Vehicle]] (ATV) - unmanned European cargo spacecraft *[[Buran (spacecraft)|Buran]] Soviet shuttle (one mission only) *[[Explorer 1]] - first US satellite *[[Progress spacecraft|Progress]] - unmanned USSR/Russia cargo spacecraft *[[Project SCORE]] - first communications satellite *[[Solar and Heliospheric Observatory|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 [[Image:Luna 9 landing capsule.jpg|thumb|[[Luna 9]] [[soft landing]] capsule (NASA)]] *[[Clementine probe|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 program|Surveyor]] - first USA soft lander ; Planetary [[Image:Cassini Saturn Orbit Insertion.jpg|thumb|[[Cassini-Huygens]] entering [[Saturn]]'s orbit]] *[[Cassini-Huygens]] - first [[Saturn]] orbiter + [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] lander *[[Galileo spacecraft|Galileo]] - first [[Jupiter]] orbiter+descent probe *[[Mariner 4]] - first [[Mars]] flyby, first close and high resulution images of Mars *[[Mariner 9]] - first Mars [[orbiter]] *[[Mariner 10]] - first [[Mercury (planet)|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 *[[New Horizons]] - first [[Pluto]] flyby (arrival 2015) *[[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 *[[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 | Space probe}} *[[Cluster mission|Cluster]] *[[Deep Space 1]] *[[Deep Impact (space mission)]] *[[Genesis (spacecraft)|Genesis]] *[[NEAR Shoemaker|Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous]] *[[Stardust (spacecraft)|Stardust]] *[[WMAP]] ; Fastest spacecraft: *[[Helios probes|Helios]] I & II ''Solar Probes'' ({{convert|252792|km/h|mph|abbr=on|disp=/}}) ; 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]] ''[[Space Shuttle program|STS]]'' [[Space Shuttle]]/Orbiter ({{convert|109000|kg|ton|disp=/}}) ===Spacecraft under development=== [[Image:Cev with lander.jpg|thumb|The proposed [[Crew Exploration Vehicle]] approaching the [[Moon]]]] *[[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 (ESA)|Darwin]] probe *[[Herschel Space Observatory]] *[[Mars Science Laboratory]] rover *[[Shenzhou spacecraft]] Cargo *[[Terrestrial Planet Finder]] probe *[[X-37]] *[[SpaceX Dragon]] manned spacecraft *[[System F6]] - a [[DARPA]] [[Fractionated Spacecraft]] demonstrator ===Unfunded/Cancelled spacecraft programs=== ; Multi-stage *Chinese [[Project 921-3]] Shuttle *ESA [[Hermes (shuttle)|Hermes]] Shuttle *Soviet [[Buran Shuttle]] *[[Soyuz Kontakt]] *[[Teledesic]] *[[Manned Orbiting Laboratory]] *[[X-20]] ; [[SSTO]] [[Image:Delta Clipper DC-X first flight.jpg|thumb|The First Test Flight of the Delta Clipper-Experimental Advanced ([[DC-XA]])]] *[[Skylon]] and the earlier RR/British Aerospace [[HOTOL]] *ESA [[Hopper (spacecraft)|Hopper]] Orbiter *[[McDonnell Douglas DC-X]] (Delta Clipper) *[[Rotary Rocket|Roton]] Rotored-Hybrid *Lockheed-Martin [[VentureStar]] *NX-Alpha (Planning Stage) ==See also== {{Portalpar | Spaceflight}} {{Wiktionarypar|spacecraft}} *[[Astrionics]] *[[List of spaceflights]] *[[Spacecraft design]] *[[Spacecraft propulsion]] *[[Space exploration]] *[[Spaceflight records]] *[[Starship]] *[[Ansari X Prize]] *[[Atmospheric reentry]] *[[Earth to orbit]] ==References== {{reflist}} {{refbegin}} *{{cite book |title=Space Mission Analysis and Design |publisher=Microcosm |location=Torrance, CA |first=James |last=Wertz |coauthors=Larson, Wiley J |edition=3rd edition |year=1999 |isbn=978-1881883104}} *{{cite journal |url=http://www.newscientistspace.com/article.ns?id=dn8623 |title=Spacecraft skin 'heals' itself |work=New Scientist |first=Will |last=Knight |date=[[2006-01-23]] |accessdate=2008-02-11}} {{refend}} ==External links== *[http://science.hq.nasa.gov/missions/phase.html NASA: Space Science Spacecraft Missions] *[http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/SpacecraftQuery.jsp NSSDC Master Catalog Spacecraft Query Form] *[http://www.planet-surveyor.com/content-cat-1.html Early History of Spacecraft] *[http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/basics/ Basics of Spaceflight tutorial from JPL/Caltech] *[http://slispaceflightmuseum.org/ International Spaceflight Museum] [[Category:Spacecraft|*]] [[Category:Spaceflight]] [[Category:Pressure vessels]] {{Link FA|hr}} [[af:Ruimtetuig]] [[ar:مركبة فضائية]] [[bg:Космически апарат]] [[ca:Nau espacial]] [[cs:Kosmická loď]] [[da:Rumskib]] [[de:Raumschiff]] [[es:Nave espacial]] [[eo:Kosmoveturilo]] [[fa:فضاپیما]] [[fr:Véhicule spatial]] [[ko:우주선]] [[hi:अंतरिक्ष यान]] [[hr:Svemirske letjelice]] [[id:Wahana antariksa]] [[it:Veicolo spaziale]] [[he:חללית]] [[ka:კოსმოსური ხომალდი]] [[lo:ຍານອາວະກາດ]] [[lv:Kosmosa kuģis]] [[hu:Űreszköz]] [[ms:Kapal angkasa lepas]] [[nl:Ruimtevaartuig]] [[ja:宇宙船]] [[no:Romskip]] [[nn:Romskip]] [[pl:Statek kosmiczny]] [[pt:Nave espacial]] [[ru:Космический аппарат]] [[simple:Spacecraft]] [[sd:خِلائِي رَٿَ]] [[sk:Umelé kozmické teleso]] [[sl:Vesoljsko plovilo]] [[sr:Свемирске летелице]] [[fi:Avaruusalus]] [[sv:Rymdfarkost]] [[th:ยานอวกาศ]] [[vi:Tàu vũ trụ]] [[tr:Uzay gemisi]] [[bat-smg:Pluotmielaivis]] [[zh:航天器]]