Deutsch: Raumschiff / Español: Nave espacial / Português: Nave espacial / Français: Vaisseau spatial / Italiano: Astronave /
A spacecraft is a vehicle or machine that is designed and built to operate outside of the Earth's atmosphere, in space. Spacecraft can be classified into two main categories: artificial satellites and manned spacecraft.
Artificial satellites are spacecraft that are designed and built to orbit the Earth or other celestial bodies. They are used for a variety of purposes, including communication, navigation, Earth observation, and scientific research. Some examples of artificial satellites include weather satellites, which are used to monitor and predict weather patterns; GPS satellites, which are used for navigation; and Earth observation satellites, which are used to study the Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land masses.
Manned spacecraft are spacecraft that are designed and built to carry people. They are used for a variety of purposes, including human exploration of space, scientific research, and transportation of people and cargo to and from space. Some examples of manned spacecraft include the NASA Space Shuttle, the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, and the Chinese Shenzhou spacecraft.
Spacecraft are typically designed and built to withstand the extreme conditions of space, including the vacuum of space, high temperatures, and radiation. They are equipped with a variety of systems and technologies, such as propulsion systems, guidance and control systems, and life support systems, to enable them to function in space.