Reusable spacecraft facts for kids
A reusable spacecraft is a special kind of spacecraft built to be used many times. Unlike most spacecraft that are used once and then discarded, reusable ones can launch, go into orbit, return to Earth, and then fly again. Think of it like a reusable airplane, but for space!
Some examples of these amazing vehicles include spaceplanes, like the famous Space Shuttle orbiters and the newer Dream Chaser. There are also space capsules, such as the SpaceX Dragon. For these spacecraft to survive coming back to Earth, they need special parts to protect them and their passengers or cargo from burning up in the atmosphere.
Contents
How Reusable Spacecraft Work
Coming Back to Earth
Reusable spacecraft need a way to slow down and safely re-enter Earth's atmosphere. For example, the Space Shuttle had special engines called "OMS pods" to help it deorbit. The SpaceX Dragon also uses its own engines to begin its journey back home. Deorbiting means slowing down the spacecraft so it can drop into the atmosphere.
When a spacecraft comes back into the atmosphere, it gets incredibly hot due to friction with the air. About 15% of the spacecraft's weight can be made up of its heat shielding!
These heat shields are part of a system called the Thermal Protection Systems (TPS). They can be made from different materials, like reinforced carbon-carbon or special "ablative" materials. Ablative materials work by burning away slowly, carrying heat with them.
Heat shields for reusable spacecraft need to be extra tough. They must handle many trips through extreme heat. Scientists are always working on new materials that can withstand these repeated fiery re-entries.
Some heat shields, like the ablative ones, are very reliable but can only be used once. Others, like the carbon-carbon tiles used on the Space Shuttle, are lighter but can be fragile. Making a heat shield that is strong, light, and can be used many times is a big challenge! The LI-900 material was a type of tile used on the Space Shuttle.
Landing Safely
Reusable spacecraft land in different ways. Some, like the Space Shuttle, land horizontally on a runway, just like an airplane. These spacecraft need wings and landing gear, which can add weight and take up space. The Space Shuttle orbiter had a special delta wing shape to help with this.
Other spacecraft land vertically. Some use parachutes to gently float down, like the original SpaceX Dragon capsule, which landed in the ocean. The newer Dragon 2 also uses parachutes to land in the ocean.
Getting Ready for the Next Flight
After a reusable spacecraft lands, it needs to be checked and prepared for its next mission. This process is called refurbishment. It can take a long time and be quite expensive, sometimes up to a year!
There's a limit to how many times a spacecraft can be reused. How often a spacecraft can fly again depends a lot on its design and how well it holds up during its missions.
Famous Reusable Spacecraft
From the U.S. and Europe
Flying Today
- SpaceShipTwo: A spaceplane designed for space tourism.
- Dragon 2: Carries astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station.
- Crew Dragon: For astronauts.
- Cargo Dragon: For supplies.
- New Shepard: A rocket and capsule system for short trips to space.
- Boeing X-37: A robotic spaceplane that flies long missions.
- Dream Chaser: A new spaceplane designed to carry cargo.
- Boeing Starliner: Another capsule designed to carry astronauts.
- Orion: A capsule for deep-space missions.
Being Developed
- SpaceX Starship: A very large, fully reusable rocket and spacecraft system.
- Space Rider: A European uncrewed spaceplane for cargo.
- SUSIE: A proposed European reusable spacecraft.
Retired from Service
- North American X-15: An experimental rocket plane that flew very high and fast.
- Space Shuttle orbiter: NASA's famous spaceplanes that flew from 1981 to 2011.
- SpaceX Dragon 1: The first version of the Dragon capsule, used for cargo.
From Russia and the Soviet Union
- VA spacecraft: An early Soviet reusable capsule.
- Buran orbiter: The Soviet Union's version of the Space Shuttle.
- Buran: The only one that flew in space.
Being Developed
- Orel: A new Russian crewed spacecraft.
Other Countries
- Chinese next-generation crewed spacecraft: A new capsule being developed by China.
- Chinese reusable experimental spacecraft: A secretive Chinese spaceplane.
- RLV-TD: An experimental reusable launch vehicle from India.
See also
