World’s First Five Spaceplanes The world’s first five spaceplanes flew within the first 50 years of human spaceflight. North American X-15 reached space in 1962/1963 (USAF/FAI Kármán line classifications). Space Shuttle and Buran reached space in 1980s. SpaceShipOne in 2004, piloted by world’s first commercial astronaut. Boeing X-37 flew in 2010. Both X-15 and SpaceShipOne ascend horizontally from a mother ship. Both Buran and X-37 spaceflights were unmanned. X-37 launches atop Centaur and Atlas V rockets. Click for high-res photo

World’s First Five Spaceplanes

The world’s first five spaceplanes flew within the first 50 years of human spaceflight. North American X-15 reached space in 1962/1963 (USAF/FAI Kármán line classifications). Space Shuttle and Buran reached space in 1980s. SpaceShipOne in 2004, piloted by world’s first commercial astronaut. Boeing X-37 flew in 2010. Both X-15 and SpaceShipOne ascend horizontally from a mother ship. Both Buran and X-37 spaceflights were unmanned. X-37 launches atop Centaur and Atlas V rockets.

Notes

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  18. for-all-mankind reblogged this from crookedindifference and added:
    I, personally, don’t consider SpaceShipOne a true spaceplane. Regardless, a fascinating infographic for sure.
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