How many types of spacecraft are there?

26 Types of Spacecraft – Simplicable.

What are 4 types of space exploration?

Earth observation satellites.
Spy satellites.
Communications satellites.
Military satellite.
Satellite navigation.
Space telescopes.
Space exploration.
Space tourism.

What are some spacecraft names?

Here’s every spaceship that’s ever carried an astronaut into…

Vostok (USSR, 1961) A model of the Vostok 1 capsule in flight in 1961. (
Mercury (US, 1961)
Voskhod (USSR, 1964)
Gemini (US, 1965)
Soyuz (USSR/Russia, 1967)
Apollo/Lunar Module (US, 1968)
Space Shuttle (US, 1981)
Shenzhou (China, 2003)

What are the 3 orbiters?

NASA retired its three operational orbiters at the end of the Space Shuttle Program in 2011 (Atlantis, Discovery, Endeavour). NASA also had two orbiters no longer in service (Challenger and Columbia) and one orbiter that was used as a test article (Enterprise).

What is the example of spacecraft?

Other examples of orbiter spacecraft include: Mariner 9 Mars Orbiter. Cassini Saturn Orbiter. Mars Global Surveyor.

How many spacecrafts are in space?

Have you ever wondered how many satellites orbit the Earth? According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), which maintains a database of active satellites in orbit, as of April 1, 2020, there were a total of 2,666 satellites in Space, of which 1,918 were in low Earth orbit (LEO).

How many spacecraft are on Mars?

The following table is a list of Mars orbiters, consisting of space probes which were launched from Earth and are currently orbiting Mars. As of February 2021, there have been 18 spacecraft missions operating in Mars’ orbit, 8 of which are currently active.

What is a lander in space?

A lander is a spacecraft that descends towards, comes to rest on, the surface of an astronomical body. Some missions (for example, Luna 9 & Mars Pathfinder) used inflatable airbags to cushion the lander’s impact rather than utilizing more traditional landing gear.

Is a satellite a spacecraft?

A spacecraft is a vehicle or device designed for travel or operation outside the Earth’s atmosphere, whereas a satellite is an object that orbits the Earth, the moon, or another celestial body. The Voyager and Pioneer spacecraft are not satellites because they are not in an orbit around any object.