Space craft (spaceship) is a kind of transportationastronautGoods arrive in space and return safelyspacecraft。Spacecraft can be divided into two types: disposable and reusable.useCarrier rocketPut the spacecraft into Earth satellite orbit, and then reenteratmosphere。In addition to the basic system equipment of general artificial satellite, the spacecraft also has life support system, re-entry system for returning to the earth, recovery landing system, etc.[1]
Chinese name
spacecraft
Foreign name
spaceship space craft
Pinyin
yǔ zhòu fēi chuán
Phonetic transcription
ㄩˇ ㄓㄡˋ ㄈㄟ ㄔㄨㄢˊ
Interpretation
Spacecraft transporting astronauts and cargo to space and returning safely
The first ship in the worldManned spacecraftIt is the "Dongfang" 1 spacecraft of the former Soviet Union, which was launched on April 12, 1961.It consists of two cabins, on which is a sealed manned cabin, also known as the astronaut cockpit.This is a sphere with a diameter of 2.3 meters.The cabin is equipped with a life support system of water and gas that can guarantee the life of astronauts, as well as an attitude control system and measurement that can control the attitude of the spacecraftairshipBeacon system for flight orbit and landingparachuteFor recovery system and emergency rescueEjection seatsystem[2]。The other compartment is the equipment compartment, which is 3.1 meters long and 2.58 meters in diameter.In the equipment cabin, there are braking rocket systems, batteries for power supply, gas cylinders, nozzles and other systems that enable the manned cabin to leave the flight orbit and return to the ground.The total mass of the "Dongfang" 1 spacecraft is about 4700 kg.It andCarrier rocketThey are all one-time tasks and can only be performed once.
On March 17, 1966, the astronauts of Gemini 8 made the first space docking.Shortly afterwards, due to the sudden failure of the spacecraft damage system, the astronauts had to carry out emergency landing treatment.Astronaut Neil-A-ArmstrongDuring the fifth circle of the planned three-day flight mission, David R. Scott and David R. Scott managed to successfully dock their Gemini capsule with the Agena spacecraft.Half an hour later, GeminiSealed cabinStart rotating and lose control.Then, one of the 12 small booster rockets on the spaceship caught fire for unknown reasons.The astronauts then separated their aircraft from the Agena and successfully landed in the Pacific Ocean.The mass is about 4700 kg.
Spacecraft classification
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Docked spacecraft
So far, humans have successively developed three types of spaceships, namely single module, double module and triple module.Among them, the single cabin type is the simplest. There is only an astronaut's cabin. Glen, the first American astronaut, took the single cabin type "Mercury" spacecraft to the sky;The dual cabin spaceship is composed of a cockpit and a service cabin providing power, power, oxygen and water. It has improved the working and living environment of astronauts. It is the first male and female astronaut in the world to ride in the former Soviet Union“Vostok ”The spaceship, the first astronaut out of the cabin in the world, the former Soviet Union“Ascending sign”Both the spaceship and the American "Gemini" spaceship belong to the double cabin type;The most complicated is the three module spacecraft, which is based on the two module spacecraft or adds one orbital module (satellite or spacecraft) to increase the space for activities, scientific experiments, etc., or adds one lunar module (lunar spacecraft) to land on or leave the moon. The former Soviet Union/Russia alliance series and the American "Apollo" spacecraft are typical three module spacecraft.These spaceships are the pioneers of manned spacecrafts, which opened the curtain of manned spaceflight.In the history of manned spaceflightindelibleRole of.Some are still active in the first line of manned spaceflight, and the Soyuz series spacecraft are still in use today.[3]
technical requirement
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Although spaceship is the simplest manned spacecraft, it is still much more complex than unmanned spacecraft (such as satellites).Although the sparrow is small, it has all five internal organs。Spacecraft andRecoverable satelliteThere are similarities, but it is necessary to carry people, so many ad hoc systems have been added to meet the diverse needs of astronauts working and living in space.For example, environmental control and life support system, telephone communication system, instrument and lighting systemSpace suit, manned mobile devices and escape systems, etc.
Of course, master the re-entry of spacecraftatmosphereAnd safe return technology.Especially for spaceships, in addition to limiting the braking overload of spaceships in the process of returning to the tolerance range of people, the precision of their landing point should be higher than that of returning satellites, so as to find and rescue astronauts in time.The manned spacecraft of the former Soviet Union used to be stranded because of poor landing accuracya world of ice and snowThe forest was almost frozen to death.There are three conditions for man to go to heaven. In addition to developing manned spacecraft, it is also necessary to have a vehicle with large carrying capacity and high reliability;The impact of high-altitude environment and flight environment on human body should be clarified, and effective protective measures should be found.[3]
The sky is high enough for the ship to fly.Future spacecraft will develop in three directions: multiple functions and uses;The control accuracy of return landing point is improved to within the range of 100 meters;The cabin returned to the ground can be reused after proper repair.
Airship structure
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Spacecraft Space Station
Manned spacecraftIt is the smallest manned spacecraft at present. It can only be used once. It can fly alone for several to ten days in space orbit. It can also be used as a "ferry" between the ground and the space station, or between the ground and the moon, or between the ground and the planetsspace stationOr other spacecraft for joint flight after docking.
cockpitIt is the core of manned spacecraft. It usually adopts large blunt head rotating bodies without wings, some of which are spherical and some of which are bell shaped. This simple shape has the characteristics of simple structure and easy realization in engineering.When the spaceship reenters the atmosphere, the cockpit can decelerate sharply at a height of about 40km from the ground, resulting in a decrease in peak valueacceleration(also called maximumoverload）It is about 8g (the semi ballistic path return mode can reach 3~4g).Such deceleration can be tolerated by astronauts who have been selected and trained.The cockpit generally has a porthole with a wide view, so that astronauts can observe the preparations before launch, the on orbit rendezvous and docking, the attitude when returning to ignition, and the ground conditions of reentry and landing.Russian astronauts have repeatedly succeeded in manual docking through portholes when the automatic docking system failed.
The service cabin is also calledPropulsive cabin, equipment cabin or instrument cabin, which is generally immediately behind the cockpit.The propulsion system, power supply, gas cylinder, water tank and other equipment are usually installed to provide support and service, power for the spacecraft, and oxygen and water for astronauts.
Orbital moduleAlso called working cabin, it is located in front of the cockpit to increase the space for astronauts.Generally, it is the astronauts' on orbit workplace, which is equipped with a variety of test equipment and experimental instruments.
AirlockIt is the equipment to ensure that all the gas in the spaceship cabin will not leak into space when astronauts leave the cabin on orbit, that is, the airtight device for astronauts to enter space or return from space.It is part of the cockpit in the 2-cabin spaceship and part of the orbital module in the 3-cabin spaceship.
The docking mechanism is also called docking module, which is connected to the cockpit or orbital module for docking and locking with other spacecraft or space stations.
The emergency life-saving device of manned spacecraft is used to ensure that astronauts can safely return to the ground or transfer to other manned spacecraft in an emergency.Existing ejection seats, life towers, separation cockpit andmanned maneuvering unitSeveral.In order to ensure that astronauts can enter space and return to the ground safely, manned spacecraft is generally equipped with multiple subsystems, including structural subsystem, life support subsystem, thermal control subsystem, attitude control and orbit control subsystem, propulsion subsystem, radio communication and measurement and control subsystem, power subsystem, instrument and lighting subsystem, and return and landing system.Among them, life support subsystem, emergency rescue subsystem, instrument and lighting subsystem are unique to manned spacecraft.Therefore, it is much more complex than unmanned satellite, and it is a breakthrough in human aerospace technology.[3]
Spacecraft of various countries
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Former Soviet Union
1. Dongfang Spaceship
Dongfang-1 spacecraft, which is composed ofPassenger compartmentandEquipment cabinAnd the last stage rocket, with a total weight of 6.17 tons and a length of 7.35 meters.The passenger compartment is spherical, with a diameter of 2.3 meters and a weight of 2.4 tons. The outer side is covered with high temperature resistant materials, which can withstand the high temperature of about 5000 ℃ caused by friction during re-entry into the atmosphere.The crew compartment can only carry one person. There are three hatches. One is the access hatch for astronauts, the other is the hatch connected to the equipment compartment, and the other is the hatch for parachutes when returning. The astronauts can observe or photograph the outside scene through the porthole.The astronaut's seat is equipped with an ejection device, which can pop out in case of an accident.At the same time, when the spaceship descends to 7000 meters from the ground, the astronauts and their seats pop out of the cabin and openparachuteAfter descending, when reaching a height of 4000 meters, the astronaut separated from the seat and returned to the ground by parachute alone.The equipment cabin is a conical cylinder with a length of 2.25 meters and a weight of 2.27 tons. Before the spaceship returns to the atmosphere, it is separated from the crew and abandoned in space.The Dongfang-1 spaceship has opened the way for mankind to space.
2. Ascension spacecraft
The Ascension spaceship weighs 5.32 tons, and the diameter of the spherical crew cabin is roughly the same as that of the Oriental spaceship. The improvement is to improve the tightness and reliability of the cabin.Astronauts can not wear spacesuits in the cockpit, and no longer use ejection mode when returning, but soft landing with the crew compartment.Ascension 1 carried three astronauts, flying in space for 24 hours and 17 minutes;Ascension 2 carried two astronauts and flew in space for 26 hours and 2 minutes.
3. Soyuz spacecraft
Soyuz spacecraft consists of orbital module, command module and equipment module, with a total weight of about 6.5 tons and a total length of about 7 meters. Astronauts work and live in the orbital module;The equipment cabin is cylindrical, 2.3 meters long, 2.3 meters in diameter, 2.6 tons in weight, and equipped with telemetry, communication, energy, temperature control and other equipment;The command cabin is bell shaped, with a bottom diameter of 3 meters, a length of about 2.3 meters, and a weight of about 2.8 tons.Before returning to the atmosphere, the spacecraft throws away the orbital module and equipment module, and the command module carries astronauts back to the ground.Starting from the Soyuz 10 spacecraft, the spacecraft of the former Soviet Union switched to docking with the space station for manned flight, pushing manned space activities to a higher stage.
4. Soyuz manned spacecraft and Progress cargo spacecraft
Since its launch, the space station of the former Soviet Union has been working together with the Soyuz manned spacecraft and the Progress cargo spacecraft to form an orbital consortium to carry out space missions.
The Soyuz series manned spacecraft has been replaced for three generations as a manned tool for the space station.From the beginning of Soyuz 10 to the end of 1993, there were 30 Soyuz, 14 Soyuz T and 17 Soyuz TM spacecraft carrying people to the space station to carry out space scientific exploration activities.The first generation Soyuz is mainly used to test the rendezvous, docking and maneuvering flight between manned spacecraft and the space station, laying a solid foundation for manned activities to the space station;The second generation of Soyuz T has improved the cockpit facilities, improved the reliability of the life support system and the comfort of the living environment;The third-generation Soyuz TM has also improved its rendezvous, docking, communication, emergency rescue and parachute systems, increasing its payload.The improved Soyuz TM spacecraft has a total weight of 7 tons, a length of about 7 meters, and a wingspan of 10.6 meters. It carries three astronauts and 250 kilograms of cargo. The biggest improvement is the docking system, which can connect withMir Space StationFor docking, there is no need for space station to do maneuver flight and adjust attitude.
Some spaceships from all over the world
"Progress" series cargo spaceships carry out the task of regularly supplying food, cargo, fuel, instruments and equipment to the space station.By the end of 1993, it had developed two generations, launching 42 Progress and 20 Progress M.After docking with the space station and completing the loading and unloading task, it will enter the atmosphere and burn itself.The spaceship is composed of instrument cabin, fuel cabin and cargo cabin. The cargo cabin has a volume of 6.6 cubic meters and can transport 1.3 tons of cargo. The fuel cabin contains 1 ton of fuel.It can fly for 4 days by itself and dock with the space station for up to 2 months.[4]
China
China's spacecraft is the Shenzhou spacecraft series, from the unmanned Shenzhou I spacecraft to the manned Shenzhou XI spacecraft, making China the third master in the world after the United States and RussiaManned spaceflightTechnology, and countries that successfully launched manned spacecraft.
In the early morning of January 20, 1999, the successful launch and recovery of China's first spaceship, "Shenzhou", marked a very important step forward in China's space technology and became one of the top ten news stories of China's space science and technology in the 20th century.
The Shenzhou spacecraft is designed and manufactured in ChinaLong March Series Launch VehicleIt was the 59th launch of the Long March carrier rocket.The space remote sensing and environmental monitoring as well as space material, life, astronomy and physical science experiments carried out in the test flight also achieved great success.
This flight adopted a new pattern of simultaneous division of labor, cooperation and measurement and control in Beijing, Xi'an and Jiuquan, and made a very detailed and thorough deployment;The satellite information systems established by Chinese satellites and some foreign satellites serving the public are used for all-round monitoring.The overall measurement and control of the whole test flight process ensured the smooth progress of the test.
For the first time, China used the world's advanced launch technology, namely the "three vertical" launch mode: vertical test, vertical transport, and vertical launch.[5]
Shenzhou II
Time of launch: 1:0:3, January 10, 2001
Time of return: 7:22 p.m., January 16, 2001
Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Landing place: Central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Flight time/laps: 6 days, 18 hours/108 laps
Shenzhou 3
Time of launch: 22:15, March 25, 2002
Return time: April 1, 2002
Place of launch: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Landing place: Central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Flight time/laps: 6 days, 18 hours/108 laps
Test project: "Shenzhou" 3 is a prototype unmanned spacecraft, and its technical status is completely consistent with the manned status.The launch test further improved the launch vehicle, spacecraft and TT&C launch system, improving the safety and reliability of manned spaceflight.The spaceship is equipped with human metabolism simulation device, anthropomorphic physiological signal device and body dummy, which can quantitatively simulate the important physiological activity parameters of astronauts in space.The escape and rescue system also worked during the launch.This system is the main measure to ensure the safety of astronauts in emergency situations.The physiological signals and metabolic indicators provided by the spaceship anthropomorphic payload are normal, which verifies the cabin environment control and life support system directly related to manned spaceflight[6]。
Shenzhou IV
Time of launch: 00:40, December 30, 2002
Return time: 19:16, January 5, 2003
Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Landing place: Central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Flight time/laps: 6 days, 18 hours/108 laps[7]
Shenzhou V
Time of launch: 09:00 on October 15, 2003
Return time: 6:28, October 16, 2003
Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
Landing place: Amugulang Grassland in central Inner Mongolia
Flight time/laps: 21 hours/14 laps[8]
Test items: Shenzhou 5 will try to reduce the number of test items and instruments in the cabin to make more space for astronauts to move and perform scientific observation tasks. It can be said that this time the main task is to investigate the astronautsSpace environmentAdaptability in.
New technology application: fault added for the first timeAutomatic detection systemAnd escape system.There are hundreds of failure modes, which will automatically alarm in case of danger.Even after the spaceship has been launched for a period of time, it can escape from the danger by escape rocket.
Remark: Yang Liwei, the first person to fly in China, successfully flew in the Shenzhou V manned spacecraft
Flight time/laps: 2 days, 20 hours, 27 minutes/45 laps
Test project: carry out the first space extravehicular activity of Chinese astronauts, break through and master the technology related to extravehicular activities, and carry out satellite companion flight, data relay of "Tianlian I" satellite and other space science and technology experiments.During the operation of the spaceship, one astronaut took the "Feitian" developed by ChinaExtravehicular spacesuitGo out of the cabin for extravehicular activities and recover the test sample device loaded outside the cabin[10]。
The flight crew consists of two male astronautsJing HaipengandChen DongComposition: Jing HaipengCommand length。Shenzhou 11 spacecraft was built byChina Academy of Space TechnologyGeneral development: after the spacecraft entered the orbit, it completed the automatic docking with the Tiangong-2 Space Laboratory after two days of independent flight to form a combination.Shenzhou 11yesChina Manned Space ProjectA transition from the second step to the third step in the three-step process to build manned vehicles for Chinaspace stationPrepare.The Shenzhou 11 mission is China's sixth manned mission and the longest manned mission in China, with a total flight time of 33 days.
On the afternoon of November 18, 2016, the Shenzhou 11 manned spacecraft returned to land successfully.
Shenzhou 12
At 9:22 on June 17, 2021, Beijing time, the Long March 2F remote 12 carrier rocket carrying the Shenzhou 12 manned spacecraft ignited and launched at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on time. About 573 seconds later, the Shenzhou 12 manned spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket, entered the scheduled orbitNie Haisheng、Liu Boming、Tang HongboThree astronauts were sent into space.
At 13:34 on September 17, 2021, the return capsule of Shenzhou XII manned spacecraft successfully landed at the Dongfeng landing site.[17]
This is the 19th flight mission since the establishment and implementation of China's manned space project, and also the first manned flight mission in the space station stage.After the spacecraft is put into orbit, it will carry out autonomous rapid rendezvous and docking with Tianhe Core Module according to the predetermined procedure.During the combination flight, the astronauts will enter the space and core module, complete the 3-month stay in orbit, carry out the manipulator operation, exit the module activities and other work, and verify a series of key technologies such as the long-term stay in orbit of astronauts, regenerative life assurance.[14]
Shenzhou XIII
At 0:23 on October 16, 2021, Beijing time, the Long March 2F remote 13 carrier rocket carrying the Shenzhou 13 manned spacecraft ignited and launched at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center according to the scheduled time. About 582 seconds later, the Shenzhou 13 manned spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket and entered the predetermined orbit, successfully sending three astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu into space,The flight crew was in good condition and the launch was a complete success.[15]
At 09:56 on April 16, 2022, the return capsule of Shenzhou XIII manned spacecraft successfully landed at the Dongfeng landing site.[18]
Shenzhou 14
At 10:44 on June 5, 2022, Beijing time, the Long March 2F remote 14 carrier rocket carrying the Shenzhou 14 manned spacecraft ignited and launched at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. About 577 seconds later, the Shenzhou 14 manned spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket and entered the predetermined orbit. The flight crew was in good condition, and the launch was a complete success.[16]
The Mercury spacecraft is the first generation of the United StatesManned spacecraft, 25 times in totalflight testSix of them were manned flight tests.The Mercury spacecraft program began in October 1958 and ended in May 1963, lasting four years and eight months.The "Mercury" program costs a total of 392.6 million dollars, including 135.3 million dollars for spacecraft, accounting for 34.5% of the total cost;The launch vehicle cost was 82.9 million US dollars, accounting for 21.1% of the total cost;The ground tracking network was US $71.9 million, accounting for 18.34%;The operating and recovery costs were $49.3 million, accounting for 12.6%;Other facilities amounted to 53.2 million US dollars, accounting for 13.46%.
2. Gemini spacecraft
Gemini spacecraft
American manned spacecraft series.From March 1965 to November 1966, 10 manned flights were conducted.The main purpose is to conduct maneuver flight, rendezvous, docking and astronaut trial extravehicular activities in orbit.Make technical preparations for the manned moon landing flight of Apollo spacecraft (seeApollo Project )。The Gemini spacecraft weighs about 3.2 to 3.8 tons and has a maximum diameter of 3 meters. It consists of two compartments, the cockpit and the equipment compartment.
The spaceship used by the United States during the implementation of manned lunar landing.Apollo 11The spaceship first realized the ideal of landing on the moon from July 20 to 21, 1969.Since then, the United States has launched the "Apollo" spacecraft six times in succession, five of which were successful, and a total of 12 astronauts landed on the moon.
At 20:05 p.m. on December 5, 2014 (Beijing time), the new generation of American "Orion" spacecraft was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Center by Delta IV heavy rocket, carrying out the first unmanned test flight mission.This test flight is the first time that the Orion spacecraft enters space. It will circle the earth twice, taking about 4.5 hours. The highest point of the orbit is 5790 kilometers from the ground, about 15 times higher than the International Space Station.After completing the test flight, the Orion spacecraft will return to the earth and land on the high sea about 960km away from the coast of California, the United States[12]。
Europe
Automated Transfer VehicleATV）It is the experimental equipment and transportation to the International Space Stationfood、atmosphereandwaterCargo ship.The autolaunch vehicle is composed ofEuropean Space AgencyConstruction.Automobiles will carry cargo fromFrench GuyanaOfkering Departure distance of launching siteearth400 kmtrack。OneHigh precision navigation systemIt will guide the autonomous vehicle to fly in the correct orbit.When the spacecraft arrives at the International Space Station, it will automatically contactRussian service cabinDocking.As the cabin group of the station, the automatic carrier ship willThe International Space StationIt stayed for six months and completed its final mission on the return trip: burning 6.4 tons of waste from the International Space Station using the earth's atmosphere.
Private spaceship
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According to the US Space Network, with the emergence of a series of new commercial spaceships, the era of private space flight is approaching.NASA's space shuttle is about to retire. Although the withdrawal of the space shuttle will have a negative impact on NASA's space transportation, it also provides a good opportunity for the development of private spacecraft.Here are 10 new private spaceships that will soon become reality.[13]
1、Lynx
With the help of the rocket powered space shuttle Lynx, XCOR Aerospace Co., Ltd. in Mojave, California, USA has entered the sub orbital space flight business.It only costs 95000 dollars to take the shuttle to space.Although each flight can only carry one pilot and one passenger, the short two-hour turnaround time can make up for the lack of space, and a maximum of four flights can be carried out every day.
2. Silver Dart
PlanetSpace, a Chicago based company in the United States, has turned its space shuttle into a suborbital earth transportation system although it focuses on the orbital space travel.PlanetSpace's space shuttle "Silver Dart" can be installed with a suborbitalrocket engine, used for point-to-point flight on Earth.The Silver Dart can fly 25000 miles (about 40233 kilometers) at hypersonic speed.Jeff Sherian, CEO of PlanetSpace, said: "With this system, it is absolutely no problem to travel from New York to Paris within 20 minutes."
3. Former Soviet RRV
Excalibur Almaz Co., Ltd. of the Isle of Man purchased several reusable recoverable spacecraft (RRV) from the former Soviet Union.This kind of spacecraft is designed to send astronauts to Almaz, a secret space station in the 1970s.Excalibur Almaz has not announced the cost of a week-long space trip, but plans to upgrade the design of the RRV spacecraft with modern technology.The RRV spacecraft consists of a conical RRV for launch and return and a disposable service module. The spacecraft can carry three people, including a commander and two passengers.
4. Dreamer
SpaceDev, a subsidiary of "Sierra Nevada" company in Centennial, Colorado, USA, is developing a spaceship "Dream Chaser" that can accommodate seven people, and is designed to use Atlas 5 rockets to send astronauts into space.SpaceDev received $20 million from NASA in a commercial crew development competition held in February 2010.
5、Vertical Tourships
The Virginia Tourism Company "Space Adventures" plans to sell space travel tickets. They use the new suborbital rocket powered spacecraft developed by Armadillo Aerospace.Armadillo in Texas is a company funded by computer game tycoon John Kalmack.The armadillo's vertical launch rocket spacecraft can send two passengers into space 62 miles (about 100 kilometers) away from the earth at a cost of 102000 dollars, far less than the cost of the International Space Station trip provided by Space Adventure.
6. Sun dancer
Bigelow Aerospace Corporation in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, proposed a unique space station design, that is, to assemble a space station with one "sun dancer".The "Sun Dancer" is a manned space capsule that can be inflated in space.Several capsules are combined to form a space station or even a moon base, which can support the existence of three astronauts.Bigelow has launched two prototype modules - Genesis 1 and Genesis 2.Although it is an unmanned capsule, it still orbits.This company has been working withSpace Exploration TechnologiesSpaceX signed the contract and plans to launch the "Solar Dancer" on Falcon 9 carrier rocket in 2014.
7、New Shepard
The space travel company Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon. com, is located in Kent, Washington.This company is still a mystery to the outside world.Little is known about the "Blue Origin" spacecraft, the New Shepard suborbital spacecraft, except that it will be composed of a sealed crew compartment installed above the propulsion module for experiments, which can send astronauts 75 miles (about 120 kilometers) away from the Earth.NASA has injected US $3.7 million into "Blue Origin" to develop the astronaut escape system and build a prototype of a composite capsule.
8. Cygnus
Orbital Sciences, a satellite launch company in Dulles, Virginia, plans to enter the space flight world with its advanced mobile spacecraft, Cygnus.The cylindrical Cygnus will be launched by the Taurus 2 rocket of Orbital Science.It carries a pressurized cargo compartment with a maximum payload of 5952 pounds.The current design of Cygnus is still unmanned.Orbital Science has signed a $1.9 billion contract with NASA to complete eight cargo transports and deliver cargo to the International Space Station.The test flight was conducted in 2011.
9. SpaceShipTwo
Richard Branson, a well-known entrepreneur, and Virgin Galactic in New Mexico, used“SpaceShipTwo”Suborbital space travel service is provided at a cost of 200000 dollars."White Knight II" is responsible for sending the "Spaceship II" carrying two pilots and six passengers to a height of 50000 feet (16000 meters) above the ground.After reaching this height, SpaceShipTwo will break away from the "White Knight" and ignite the rocket engine to enter the space up to 68 miles (110 kilometers) from the earth.The controlled launch test flight of SpaceShipTwo is under way.
10. Dragon capsule
SpaceX, a space exploration technology company in Hawthorne, California, USA, has developed Falcon 9 rocket for launching the "Dragon" capsule.The capsule could first be used to transport cargo to the International Space Station, and then to transport astronauts.The Dragon capsule is designed to carry up to seven passengers, and its first test flight is scheduled for 2010[13]。
