Mercury Capsule
Explore the historic Mercury Capsule, a symbol of America’s early space exploration efforts, and learn about its groundbreaking missions.
The complete database of
Crewed Spacecraft
Crewed spacecraft are vehicles designed to transport astronauts safely to and from space. These spacecraft are engineered with life-support systems, protective shielding, and reentry capabilities to ensure the safety and functionality required for human missions. Experience the awe-inspiring journey of human space exploration with crewed shuttles, capsules, and spaceplanes, pushing the boundaries of our reach.
Quick jump to: Crewed Capsules • Crewed Spaceplanes • Space Shuttles
Crewed Capsules
Modern crewed spacecraft vary in design and purpose. Capsules like SpaceX‘s Crew Dragon and NASA’s Orion focus on orbital and deep-space missions, equipped with advanced systems for navigation, communication, and docking with space stations or other spacecraft. These vehicles often have a modular design, with service modules providing propulsion and power during the mission.
Orion Spacecraft
Orion serves as a crucial component of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface and establish a presence.
Gemini Spacecraft
Explore the Gemini spacecraft, a pioneering marvel of NASA’s Gemini program, enabling orbital rendezvous and spacewalking capabilities.
Vostok Spacecraft
Explore the historic Vostok 1 spacecraft, the first to carry a human into space and learn about its design, missions, and enduring legacy.
Voskhod Spacecraft
Explore the groundbreaking Soviet Voskhod spacecraft, which achieved the first multi-crewed spaceflight and spacewalk.
Soyuz Spacecraft
Explore the legendary Soyuz spacecraft, a cornerstone of human spaceflight, ferrying astronauts to and from space stations like the ISS.
Shenzhou Spacecraft
Explore the Shenzhou spacecraft, a symbol of China’s space ambitions, enabling crewed missions to Earth orbit and beyond.
SpaceX Crew Dragon 2
Explore Dragon 2, SpaceX’s cutting-edge spacecraft revolutionizing crewed spaceflight. Discover its design, missions, and roles.
New Shepard Capsule
Discover New Shepard, Blue Origin’s suborbital launch vehicle, offering passengers a glimpse of space and weightlessness.
Orel Spacecraft
Explore the cutting-edge Orel spacecraft, Russia’s next-generation crewed vehicle for space exploration and learn about its design and missions.
Crewed Spaceplanes
Crewed spaceplanes are can become crucial for a variety of missions, from supporting research aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to paving the way for exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Spaceplanes, such as the under-development Sierra Nevada Dream Chaser, combine aircraft-like designs with space capabilities, allowing them to take off, operate in orbit, and land on conventional runways.
Dream Chaser Plane
Discover Dream Chaser, the innovative cargo spacecraft offering autonomous cargo delivery and gentle runway landings.
SpaceX Starship
Explore the groundbreaking SpaceX Starship, revolutionizing space travel with its fully reusable design to enable crewed missions.
Prometheus Spacecraft (Concept)
The Prometheus spacecraft was designed to unlock the secrets of the universe through advanced propulsion and cutting-edge instruments.
Space Shuttles
Space shuttles were reusable spacecraft developed by NASA to carry astronauts and cargo to orbit. Operating from 1981 to 2011, they combined rocket launches with airplane-like landings, making them a revolutionary step in space exploration. Shuttles like Discovery and Atlantis supported missions to build the International Space Station, deploy satellites, and conduct scientific research, leaving a lasting legacy in human spaceflight. Relive the era of reusable spacecraft, where spaceplanes transported astronauts and cargo to and from Earth’s orbit, revolutionizing human space exploration.
The Space Shuttle Family
Explore the iconic Space Shuttle spacecraft, NASA’s revolutionary spacecraft that transformed human spaceflight and exploration.
Buran Space Shuttle
Discover Buran, the Soviet Union’s response to the Space Shuttle program. Learn about its design, mission, and lasting impact.
Space Shuttle Enterprise
The Space Shuttle Enterprise was NASA’s first space shuttle orbiter, built in the 1970s. It actually never flew in space.
Space Shuttle Columbia
The Space Shuttle Columbia was NASA’s first operational orbiter. It launched on April 12, 1981 and returned safely to Earth.
Space Shuttle Challenger
Initially, the Challenger was built as a Structural Test Article to undergo ground-based stress tests but was converted into an orbiter.
Space Shuttle Discovery
Constructed by Rockwell International, Space Shuttle Discovery was delivered to Kennedy Space Center in November 1983.
Space Shuttle Atlantis
The Space Shuttle Atlantis was NASA’s fourth operational orbiter. Atlantis was lighter than its predecessors.
Space Shuttle Endeavour
The Space Shuttle Endeavour (OV-105) was NASA’s fifth and final operational space shuttle orbiter, constructed to replace Challenger.