Simplicable Guide

26 Types of Spacecraft

John Spacey, May 14, 2016 updated on March 18, 2021

A spacecraft is a machine designed for travel in space or extraterrestrial environments such as the surfaces of planets or interior of an asteroid. Existing spacecraft are typically used for communication, information technology, research and exploration. Theoretical spacecraft have further potential uses such as mining, manufacturing, energy production, artificial ecosystems, terraforming alien worlds and defending Earth from risks such as asteroid impacts. The following are types of existing, proposed and hypothetical spacecraft.

Atmospheric Probe

An unmanned machine designed to enter the atmosphere of an alien planet.

Bussard Ramjet

A theoretical type of spacecraft that would drive propulsion using large scale electromagnetic fields to collect and compress hydrogen from space. Although space is mostly empty, it does contain particles such as those generated by the solar wind.

Dyson Sphere

A sphere that completely encloses a star in order to capture all of its energy. Some of this energy could potentially be used to propel the structure through space as a moving megastructure. A Dyson Sphere around our sun would generate 33 trillion times the world's current annual energy consumption.

Flyby Spacecraft

A spacecraft designed to approach planets but not be captured by their orbit or land. They generally either follow a solar orbit or eventually escape the solar system.

Generation Ship

A ship designed with an artificial environment large enough for a small society to sustain itself for multiple generations. The Milk Way galaxy is at least 150,000 light years in diameter and even at the speed of light, interstellar travel can potentially take thousands of years.

Interplanetary Spacecraft

A spacecraft capable of reaching planets in the solar system.

Interstellar Spacecraft

A spacecraft capable of reaching another solar system. The closest solar system to our own, Alpha Centauri, is 4.37 light-years from the sun. Using current technologies it might take hundreds of years to reach and cost several orders of magnitude more than a interplanetary spacecraft.

Lander

A craft that is capable of landing on an alien surface such as a planet, moon or asteroid.

Magnetic Sail

A proposed method of propulsion that uses a static magnetic field that is pushed by forces such as the solar wind, planetary magnetospheres or the very small amounts of hydrogen found in interstellar space.

Manned Spacecraft

A spacecraft with a crew and/or passengers.

Mothership

A large spacecraft that serves, launches or is served by smaller spacecraft known as tenders.

Nanoprobes

Small spacecraft built at nanoscale are a potential way to explore vast regions of space at a minimal cost. If mass produced, such craft might benefit from economies of scale.

Orbiter

A spacecraft designed to achieve orbit around a planet. Requires the ability to slow down enough not to escape orbit as it passes.

Penetrator Spacecraft

A craft designed to withstand impact with a body such as a comet in order to study its interior.

Rover Spacecraft

A vehicle designed for an alien surface such as a planet or moon.

Satellite

A class of unmanned spacecraft typically deployed in orbit around the Earth with communications, information technology, observational and research capabilities. Around one thousand satellites are currently in operation.

Self-Replicating Spacecraft

A spacecraft designed to collect energy and materials in space in order to create copies of itself. In theory, the descendants of a single probe could explore the entire galaxy.

Sleeper Ship

A manned ship with a crew that is put into a state of hibernation or suspended animation to prevent or slow aging for interstellar missions of decades or more in duration.

Solar Orbiter

A craft that orbits a star.

Solar Sails

A method of propulsion that uses a physical mirror-like sail designed to be pushed by light emitted by stars or laser beams.

Space Capsule

A spacecraft with a simple shape without wings to create lift during atmospheric reentry. Typically lands with the use of parachute.

Space Elevator

A cable that extends from Earth to a geostationary satellite that can be climbed by vehicles in order to achieve orbit. Potentially reduces the energy required to escape the Earth's gravity.

Space Station

A spacecraft capable of supporting a crew for an extended period of time. Often constructed in space without major propulsion systems or any ability to land.

Spaceplane

A craft that can fly in Earth's atmosphere using lift and then transition to flight in space where lift isn't possible.

Stanford Torus

A donut-shaped space habitat designed to produce artificial gravity by rotating to create centrifugal force.

Stellar Engines

Using a star as an engine for propulsion. Potentially ethically questionable as it reconfigures the universe and may have a dramatic impact on the space environment.