Spaceplane

A spaceplane is a vehicle designed to operate both in Earth's atmosphere and in space, combining features of an airplane and a spacecraft. It can take off and land like a traditional airplane using wings and engines, then transition into spaceflight when necessary. Spaceplanes aim to enable cost-effective, reusable access to space by reducing the need for separate launch and recovery systems, making space missions more efficient. Examples include the Space Shuttle and future concepts like reusable launch vehicles, all engineered to withstand the intense conditions of space travel while allowing for controlled re-entry and landing.