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It depends on what your definition of "spacecraft" is vs NASA's definition. NASA considers anything flying in space to be a spacecraft. However, many not in the Aerospace industry only see launch vehicles (the formal term used to describe vehicles that carry men and machines into space) as spacecraft.
For launch vehicles, aside from the Space Shuttle (formally known as Orbiters or Orbiter Vehicles) NASA routinely uses many different types of launch vehicles, U.S. made and those of other space agencies that NASA works with.
Some of the more current common launch vehicles that NASA has commonly used or is considering for use in the future are:
Manned Flight Launch Vehicles
Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103)
Space Shuttle Atlantis (OV-104)
Space Shuttle Endeavour (OV-105)
The Space Shuttle incorporatesSolid Rocket Boosters (SRB's) and the External Main Tank (EMT), which holds a volatile mixture of liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, and other extremely toxic propellants, are also considered as part of launch vehicle system.
Un-Manned Launch Vehicles
United States
NASA Ares I-X Rocket (2009)
Orbital Sciences Taurus Rocket
Orbital Sciences Minotaur Rocket
United Launch Alliance Delta II Rocket
United Launch Alliance Delta IV Rocket
United Launch Alliance Atlas V Rocket
European Space Agency
Ariane Rocket
Vega Rocket
Japan Space Agency
H-2 Rocket
NASA launch centers are:
Kennedy Space Center - Space Shuttle, Launch Pads 39A and 39B
Cape Canaveral Air Station (on Merritt Island across the causeway from KSC)
Vandenberg Air Force Base (between San Francisco and L.A.)
Wallops Flight Center (Chincoteague, VA)
The individual launch centers are responsible for the launch vehicle and its payload up until the mission clock starts, which is when the countdown ends and the vehicle is launched, sending the clock into a positive count denoting mission start. At that time, responsibility for the vehicle and payload shifts to the individual mission control center. For examples, the Space Shuttle is controlled from Mission Control in Houston, Texas; Mars missions and deep space probes are controlled from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California; The Hubble Telescope is controlled from Johns-Hopkins University in Columbia, Maryland.
Past NASA Launch Vehicles:
Redstone-Atlas Rockets (Mercury Missions)
Gemini-Titan Rockets (Gemini Missions)
Saturn V (Apollo Moon Missions)
Space Shuttle Challenger (OV-099)
Space Shuttle Enterprise (OV-101)
Space Shuttle Columbia (OV-102)
There is a plan now to phase out the Shuttle in 2010 for use as a taxi service between the ground and the ISS, with the responsibility for that going to the Russians. After working for 9 years for NASA in both Manned and Un-Manned Flight Programs, I can honestly say that nothing worries me more for the future of the U.S. Space Program. The Russians have historically been late on everything they do, and over-budget to boot. They are one of the main reasons the ISS was delayed for so long in getting off the ground.
NASA plans to replace the Space Shuttle with the Orion Spacecraft, which is based on the Apollo moon vehicle design. It is currently in development.
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Are solar batteries commonly used by NASA?
Solar cells are commonly used on spacecraft but because a spacecraft might spend a considerable amount of time in the dark they also have fuel power. They most obviously use oil based fuel to launch the spacecraft into space.
What type of spacecraft does NASA currently use?
for human space flight they use the Space shuttle.
First spacecraft to mars from nasa?
The first spacecraft to land successfully on Mars was Viking 1 in 1975
Why did NASA name a spacecraft after Galileo?
He created the first telescope
What measurements did nasa use too bring the astronauts home?
The astronauts of Apollo 13 , had to use the lunar module to return to the earth after the spacecraft had exploded.
Are solar batteries commonly used by NASA?
Solar cells are commonly used on spacecraft but because a spacecraft might spend a considerable amount of time in the dark they also have fuel power. They most obviously use oil based fuel to launch the spacecraft into space.
What type of spacecraft does NASA currently use?
for human space flight they use the Space shuttle.
Who invented the Apollo spacecraft?
NASA
What was the name of the first spacecraft to go to Jupiter?
NASA's Pioneer 10 spacecraft.
What is the first maneuverable spacecraft?
The first maneuverable spacecraft is considered to be the Gemini Spacecraft. This was NASA's second human spacecraft, and its mission lasted from 1965 to 1966.
What nasa spacecraft was made to be reused?
The space shuttle.
What is the name of NASA project mercury's spacecraft?
Redstone.
Is the first spacecraft on the moon?
Nope, it returned to NASA
What is the next spacecraft to be used by nasa?
Orion capsule
Where did John Glenn's spacecraft lift off at?
NASA
First spacecraft to mars from nasa?
The first spacecraft to land successfully on Mars was Viking 1 in 1975
Which world's first reusable spacecraft?
Nasa space shuttle
