Crewed

Crewed is an adjective used to describe vehicles, missions, or operations that involve human occupants. In aerospace and aviation, a spacecraft or aircraft is described as crewed when it carries one or more crew members, as opposed to uncrewed or unmanned vehicles that operate without people on board. The term signals human presence and responsibility for operating, monitoring, or conducting tasks during the mission.

Historically, the term manned was common, but many organizations have adopted crewed to emphasize inclusivity. Crewed missions require life support, reliable propulsion and guidance, robust redundancy, crew training, and procedures for contingencies. Human factors such as fatigue, circadian rhythms, and radiation exposure influence design and scheduling. The distinction between crewed and uncrewed programs affects risk assessments, budget, timelines, and testing philosophy, since humans can react to unexpected situations but are also more vulnerable to danger.

Examples of crewed programs include early and late 20th-century spaceflights (Apollo, Space Shuttle), ongoing operations on space stations, and current or planned programs such as Artemis and prospective missions to Mars. The concept remains central to human space exploration and to many aircraft and ships that carry passengers or operators. The term also informs policy and standards around human-rated systems and mission readiness.