Spaceplane

A spaceplane is a vehicle that operates as an aircraft in Earth's atmosphere, as well as a spacecraft when it is in space. It combines features of an aircraft and a spacecraft, which can be thought of as an aircraft that can endure and maneuver in the vacuum of space or likewise a spacecraft that can fly like an airplane. Typically, it takes the form of a spacecraft equipped with wings, although lifting bodies have been designed and tested as well. The propulsion to reach space may be purely rocket based or may use the assistance of air-breathing engines.

However, for an aircraft to successfully fly in Earth's atmosphere, it must be able to successfully control, power and sustain its own flight. If a spaceplane cannot successfully control itself, power itself or sustain its flight once reentering Earth's atmosphere, it cannot be considered successful at aviation in the atmosphere.

Only five spaceplanes have successfully flown to date, having reentered Earth's atmosphere, returned to Earth, and safely landed — the X-15, Space Shuttle, Buran, SpaceShipOne, and X-37. All five are rocket gliders. Only rockets and rocket-powered aircraft have thus far succeeded in reaching space. Two of these five are rocket-powered aircraft, having been carried up to an altitude of several tens of thousands of feet by an atmospheric aircraft mother ship before release. Three are vertical takeoff horizontal landing (VTHL) vehicles relying upon rocket lift for the ascent phase in reaching space and atmospheric lift for reentry, descent and landing.

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