spaceplane

Noun

Meaning

spaceplane (plural spaceplanes)

A rocketplane designed to pass the edge of space, combining certain features of aircraft and spacecraft.
Synonym: aerospace plane

Examples

ESA originally designed Ariane 5 to launch the Hermes spaceplane, and thus intended it to be human rated from the beginning. Source: Internet

In August 1973, the X-24B proved that an unpowered spaceplane could re-enter Earth's atmosphere for a horizontal landing. Source: Internet

This spaceplane was designed for a crew and strongly resembled the U.S. Space Shuttle, although its drop-off boosters used liquid propellants and its main engines were located at the base of what would be the external tank in the American Shuttle. Source: Internet

The first example of such was the North American X-15 spaceplane, which conducted two manned flights which reached an altitude of over 100 km in the 1960s. Source: Internet

Japan began development in the 1980s of the HOPE-X experimental spaceplane, to be launched on its H-IIA expendable launch vehicle. Source: Internet

The Reaction Engines Scimitar has been proposed for the LAPCAT hypersonic airliner, and the Reaction Engines SABRE for the Reaction Engines Skylon spaceplane. Source: Internet

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