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

• Mother ship