List of spaceplanes

A Spaceplane is a craft that is able to fly in the atmosphere like an aeroplane and is also able to reach space and manoeuvre as a spacecraft where conventional aerodynamic controls lose their effectiveness. Most are only capable of sub-orbital space flight.

Type Country Class Role Date Status Notes
ASSET US Rocket launch Experimental 1963 Prototype Unmanned reentry test vehicle.
Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar US Rocket launch Experimental 1963 Project Manned.
BOR-4 USSR Rocket launch Experimental 1982 Prototype Unmanned reentry test vehicle.
Buran Shuttle USSR Rocket launch Utility 1988 Prototype Manned orbiter, launched by the Energia rocket. Only one unmanned flight made.
HOTOL UK SSO Utility 1988 Project Proposed airbreathing rocket engine.
Interim HOTOL UK Air launch Utility 1991 Project Launched from the Antonov An-225 Mriya, the Buran air lift carrier aircraft.
Martin X-23 PRIME US Rocket launch Experimental 1966 Prototype Unmanned atmospheric re-entry test vehicle
North American X-15 US Air launch Experimental 1959 Prototype 5 built. Air-dropped from a Boeing B-52.
Sanger Silbervogel Germany Composite Bomber 1944 Project Sub-orbital. Mock up and wind tunnel models only.
Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne US Composite Transport 2004 Prototype first civilian-funded reusable spacecraft, lifted by White Knight to about 14 km
Scaled Composites SpaceShipTwo US Composite Transport 2010 Prototype For Virgin Galactic commercial testing.
Space Shuttle US Rocket launch Utility 1981 Operational Manned orbiter.
XCOR Lynx (formerly Xerus) US SSO Experimental 2008 Project Suborbital. Horizontal takeoff and landing.

See also


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