Vehicles designed to operate in the vacuum–weightlessness–high radiation environment of space; used to convey human crew, to acquire scientific data, to conduct utilitarian operations (eg telecommunications and synoptic weather observations), and to conduct research (eg microgravity experiments). The first spacecraft (Sputnik 1) was launched by the USSR in 1957 (4 Oct). They require highly reliable automated command and control, attitude stabilization, thermal control, radio telemetry, and data processing systems. Specialized spacecraft have been designed to be controllable on re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere (eg the NASA Space Shuttle), and to operate in atmospheres of other planets (eg Soviet Venera and US Pioneer atmospheric entry probes).
Spacecraft subsystems may include: attitude determination and control (frequently called ADAC 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.Spacecraft subsystems
Attitude control
Spacecraft need an attitude control subsystem in order that they may be correctly oriented in space and respond to external torques and forces properly.
Communications
The communications subsystem, sometimes called the Telemetry, Tracking, and Control (TT&C) subsystem serves as an interface between the spacecraft and the ground system, or between the spacecraft and other spacecraft. 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 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.
Power
Spacecraft need an electrical power generation and distribution subsystem for powering the various spacecraft subsystems.
Propulsion
Spacecraft may or may not have a propulsion subsystem, depending upon whether or not the mission profile calls for propulsion. The Swift spacecraft is an example of a spacecraft that does not have a propulsion subsystem.
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.
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".
Ground system
The ground system, though not technically part of the spacecraft, is vital to the operation of the spacecraft. Typical components of a ground system 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.
Launch vehicle
The launch vehicle is used propel the spacecraft from the Earth's surface, through the atmosphere, and into an orbit, the exact orbit being dependent upon mission configuration.
Fictional spacecraft
The term spacecraft is mainly used to refer to spacecraft that are real or conceived using present technology. Numerous short stories and novels are built up around various ideas for spacecraft, and spacecraft have often been featured in movies.
Some famous fictional spacecraft
(see List of fictional spaceships)
USS Enterprise and Klingon Bird of Prey from Star Trek Millennium Falcon, X-Wing and Tie fighter from Star Wars Eagle Transporter from Space 1999 Discovery One from 2001: A Space OdysseyUnidentified Flying Objects
Some people believe that Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) may be alien spacecraft (that is, not of human construction and not originating from Earth), sometimes referred to as flying saucers.
Examples of spacecraft
Manned spacecraft
Apollo Spacecraft Gemini Spacecraft International Space Station Mir Mercury Spacecraft Shuttle Buran Shenzhou Spacecraft Space Shuttle Soyuz Spacecraft SpaceShipOne Voskhod Spacecraft Vostok SpacecraftHeaviest spacecraft
NASA STS Space Shuttle/Orbiter - 109,000 kg or 120 tons (US)Unmanned spacecraft
Cassini-Huygens Cluster Deep Space 1 Deep Impact (space mission) ESA SMART-1 Lunar Impact Galileo Genesis Lunar Prospector Mars Exploration Rover Mars Global Surveyor Mars Pathfinder Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous New Horizons Soviet Shuttle Buran (one mission only) Pioneer 10 Pioneer 11 Progress SOHO Stardust Surveyor WMAP
Farthest spacecraft
Fastest spacecraft
Spacecraft under development
Automated Transfer Vehicle Crew Exploration Vehicle 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 probe NASA Dawn Mission probe Herschel Space Observatory Mars Science Laboratory Rover Phoenix Mars Scout Shenzhou Cargo Terrestrial Planet Finder probe
Commercial spacecraft
Commercial Spacecraft under development
Cancelled spacecraft programs
Cancelled SSTO spacecraft
User Comments Add a comment…