manned

Manned is an adjective meaning carried or operated by people on board. Historically used across transportation and exploration to indicate the presence of a human crew, it is often contrasted with unmanned or autonomous systems. The term derives from the word man and has long been part of technical and descriptive language in many fields.

In aviation and maritime contexts, a manned aircraft or manned vessel requires a crew aboard, as opposed to an unmanned aerial vehicle or unmanned ship. In spaceflight, manned or crewed spaceflight describes missions with astronauts aboard, such as the early Mercury and Apollo programs, and the ongoing crewed missions to space stations. In recent years, some agencies and publishers prefer “crewed” to emphasize inclusivity, and may use “uncrewed” or “remote-operated” for vehicles without people on board.

Language use and trends

The term remains common in historical writing, museums, and legacy naming, but contemporary usage often favors gender-neutral alternatives. Style guides and organizations increasingly promote “crewed” or other neutral terms to avoid gendered implications, while “manned” continues to appear in traditional or technical contexts.

In summary, manned denotes human-occupied operation or presence on a vehicle or mission, contrasting with unmanned or autonomous systems. Its usage varies by era and organization, with a current trend toward more inclusive terminology in many fields.