Spacecraft
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![More than 100 Soviet and Russian Soyuz manned spacecraft (TMA version shown) have flown since 1967 for a Soviet manned lunar program and now supporting the International Space Station.](/Images/godic/202502/12/Soyuz_TMA-7_spacecraft2edit11455.jpg")
![The US Space Shuttle flew 135 times from 1981 to 2011, supporting Spacelab, Mir, and the ISS. (Columbia's first launch shown)](/Images/godic/202502/12/Space_Shuttle_Columbia_launching1455.jpg")
![The first artificial satellite, Sputnik](/Images/godic/202502/12/Sputnik-11455.jpg")
A spacecraft is a vehicle, or machine designed to fly in outer space. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, space colonization, planetary exploration, and transportation of humans and cargo.