List of spaceplanes

From Wikipedia - Reading time: 6 min

A spaceplane incorporates aspects of both aeroplanes and spacecraft. Most concepts were only capable of sub-orbital spaceflight.

Type Country Class Role Date Status No. Notes
ASSET USA Rocket launch Experimental 1963 Prototype Uncrewed reentry test vehicle.
Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar USA Rocket launch Experimental 1963 Project Crewed
Boeing X-37 USA Rocket launch Utility 2010 Prototype Robotic orbiter operated by the United States Armed Forces.
BOR-4 USSR Rocket launch Experimental 1982 Prototype Uncrewed reentry test vehicle.
Buran Shuttle USSR Rocket launch Utility 1988 Prototype Crewed orbiter, launched by the Energia rocket. Only one robotic flight was made.
Dawn Aerospace Mk.2 The Netherlands / New Zealand Suborbital rocket launch Experimental 2020 Prototype Uncrewed suborbital space plane. Horizontal takeoff and landing.
Dream Chaser USA Rocket launch Utility 2004 Project Uncrewed orbiter, originally intended as a crew vehicle. Launched by a Vulcan Centaur rocket.
HOTOL UK SSTO Utility 1988 Project 0 Airbreathing rocket engine.
Interim HOTOL UK Air launch Utility 1991 Project 0 Launched from the Antonov An-225 Mriya, the Buran air lift carrier aircraft.
Martin X-23 PRIME USA Rocket launch Experimental 1966 Prototype Uncrewed atmospheric re-entry test vehicle
North American X-15 USA Air launch Experimental 1959 Prototype 3 Air-dropped from a Boeing B-52.
Sanger Silbervogel Germany Composite Bomber 1944 Project 0 Sub-orbital. Mockup and wind tunnel models only.
Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne USA Composite Transport 2004 Prototype 1 First civilian-funded reusable spacecraft, lifted by White Knight to about 14 km
Scaled Composites SpaceShipTwo USA Composite Transport 2010 Prototype 2 For Virgin Galactic commercial testing.
Skylon UK SSTO Utility 1993 Project Continuation of cancelled HOTOL.
Space Rider ESA Lifting body Experimental 2021 Project Robotic, orbital
Space Shuttle USA Rocket launch Utility 1981 Retired 4–8 Crewed orbiter.
XCOR Lynx (formerly Xerus) USA Suborbital Experimental 2008 Project 0 Horizontal takeoff and landing.

See also

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