spaceplanes

Spaceplanes are vehicles designed to operate in both Earth's atmosphere and outer space. They typically combine wings, a fuselage, and propulsion capable of launching from a runway, reaching space, and returning for a powered, controlled landing. Spaceplanes may be orbital, capable of reaching and returning from orbit, or suborbital, delivering a limited period of weightlessness before re-entry. They can be reusable, designed for multiple flights, or expendable, though most contemporary programs emphasize reuse to reduce overall cost.

Historically, spaceplanes range from early rocket planes that briefly reached space to full orbital carriers. The Bell X-15, flown in the 1960s, demonstrated sustained high-speed flight and, on some runs, crossed the boundary of space. The Space Shuttle system operated from 1981 to 2011, delivering crew and cargo to orbit and returning to land like an aircraft. The Soviet Buran program conducted a single orbital flight that demonstrated automated re-entry and landing. More recently, the X-37B, an unmanned orbital test vehicle, has conducted long-duration missions and returns to Earth for a runway landing. Suborbital spaceplanes such as SpaceShipOne and SpaceShipTwo, developed by Scaled Composites and Virgin Galactic, perform spaceflight without achieving orbital velocity. Dream Chaser, a lifting-body spaceplane under development by Sierra Space, aims to provide crewed and automated cargo missions.

Design and technology for spaceplanes involve balancing atmospheric performance with spaceflight requirements. They must withstand extreme re-entry heating, provide adequate control at hypersonic speeds, and integrate propulsion for both atmospheric ascent and space operations. The potential advantages include reusable platforms for satellite deployment, on‑orbit servicing, and passenger or crew transport, though challenges include complexity, mass, and cost.