# Hermes (spacecraft)

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French crewed spaceplane concept (1975–1992)

Hermes Artist's impression of Hermes Designer Centre National d'Études Spatiales Country of origin France Specifications Spacecraft type Spaceplane Launch mass 21,000 kg (46,000 lb) Payload capacity 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) Crew capacity Three Design life 30 to 90 days Production Status Cancelled SOAR →

**Hermes** was a proposed [spaceplane](/source/Spaceplane) designed by the French [Centre National d'Études Spatiales](/source/CNES) (CNES) in 1975, and later by the [European Space Agency](/source/European_Space_Agency) (ESA). It was superficially similar to the American [Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar](/source/Boeing_X-20_Dyna-Soar) and the larger [Space Shuttle](/source/Space_Shuttle).

In January 1985, CNES proposed to proceed with Hermes development under the auspices of the ESA.[1][2] Hermes was to have been a crewed spaceflight program launched by an [Ariane 5](/source/Ariane_5) [launch vehicle](/source/Launch_vehicle). In November 1987, the project was approved for pre-development from 1988 to 1990, after which authorisation for full development was required. However, the project experienced numerous delays and funding issues.

In 1992, Hermes was cancelled due to high cost and unachievable performance, as well as a partnership with the [Russian Aviation and Space Agency](/source/Roscosmos) (RKA) which reduced the need for an independent spaceplane. As a result, no Hermes shuttles were ever built. During the 2010s, it was proposed to resurrect the Hermes vehicle as a [partially reusable](/source/Reusable_launch_system) [air-launched](/source/Air_launch_to_orbit) [spaceplane](/source/Spaceplane) [launch system](/source/Launch_vehicle), known as [SOAR](/source/SOAR_(spaceplane)).

## Development

### Origins

During the 1960s and 1970s, there was increasing recognition by European nations that more international cooperation would be necessary for large space projects.[3] In 1973, the [European Space Research Organisation](/source/European_Space_Research_Organisation) (ESRO) — a precursor to the [European Space Agency](/source/European_Space_Agency) (ESA) — commenced development of a heavy [expendable launch system](/source/Expendable_launch_system) later named the [Ariane](/source/Ariane_(rocket_family)). The French space agency [Centre National D'études Spatiales](/source/CNES) (CNES), desired greater autonomy to avoid overreliance upon [NASA](/source/NASA), and envisaged a European-built human-capable space vehicle that would operate in conjunction with other ESA assets such as Ariane.[3]

In 1976, CNES commenced studies into a crewed version of Ariane.[4] Two different concepts included a capsule and a glider. In 1983, CNES opted to focus on a space plane that would deliver greater convenience, comfort, and cost-effectiveness.[4] A space plane would simplify recovery by having the necessary cross-range manoeuvrability to reach a given point on the Earth within a single day, while providing for a less challenging re-entry environment for the crew and payload. Reusability would also reduce the cost of successive missions.[4] Critical technologies identified included [thermal protection](/source/Thermal_insulation), [environmental controls](/source/Environmental_control_system_(aircraft)), [life support systems](/source/Life_support_system), [aerodynamics](/source/Aerodynamics), and power.[5]

During the mid-1980s, in addition to the [Columbus Man-Tended Free Flyer](/source/Columbus_Man-Tended_Free_Flyer) (an independent European [space station](/source/Space_station)) and the [Ariane 5](/source/Ariane_5) heavy launch vehicle,[6] CNES championed the development and production of the *Space Shuttle* as a European initiative akin to the reusable space vehicle programs of the Soviet Union's [Buran](/source/Buran_(spacecraft)) and the US [Space Shuttle](/source/Space_Shuttle).[3]

### Selection

[Jacques Chaban-Delmas](/source/Jacques_Chaban-Delmas) and [Dominique Baudis](/source/Dominique_Baudis) in front of a full-scale mock-up in [Toulouse](/source/Toulouse), October 1987

On 18 October 1985, CNES appointed French [aerospace](/source/Aerospace) company [Aérospatiale](/source/A%C3%A9rospatiale) as the primary contractor for Hermes, the name that had been given to the spacecraft. French aircraft manufacturer [Dassault-Breguet](/source/Dassault_Aviation) was awarded responsibility for the aerodynamic and aerothermal aspects of the design.[3] [Arianespace](/source/Arianespace) was responsible for the Ariane 5 launcher and a strong candidate to manage operation of the infrastructure for *Hermes*.[3]

On 25 October 1985, the proposal for Hermes was presented to the partner nations of the ESA.[3] A deadline of March 1987 was set for the 'Europeanisation' of the programme, under which portions of work for Hermes was assigned.[7] The work share was attributed 15% to [West Germany](/source/West_Germany), 13% to Italy, 7% to Belgium, 5% to the Netherlands, 4% each to the United Kingdom, Spain, and Sweden, and 2% or less to Switzerland, Austria, Denmark and Ireland. Potential participation by Norway and Canada was mooted.[3] France held a 50 percent share of the work, although CNES was open to further redistribution of the work dependent upon individual partners increasing their stake in the programme. Early on, there was optimism that securing the funding from ESA members to proceed would not be difficult.[3]

In November 1987, the ESA issued its approval. As envisaged, by 1995 Hermes would enable the ESA to service the planned Columbus Man-Tended Free Flyer (MTFF)[8] (the MTFF was restructured and ultimately manufactured as the [Columbus module](/source/Columbus_(ISS_module)) of the [International Space Station](/source/International_Space_Station)).[3] Development of Hermes was to proceed in two phases:[3]

### *Phase 1: Study and pre-development.*

Phase 1 was scheduled to end in 1990. Its plans called for the capability to lift 6 astronauts and 4,550 kg (10,030 lb) of cargo, but after the [Challenger](/source/STS-51-L) disaster, an ejection capacity was added to give astronauts at least a small chance of survival in case of catastrophe. Accordingly, the six seats were curtailed to three regular [ejection seats](/source/Ejection_seat), which were chosen over an ejectable crew [capsule](/source/Space_capsule) that would have offered an escape option at heights above 28 km (17 mi). The cargo capacity was reduced to 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). *Hermes* would not be able to place objects into [orbit](/source/Orbit) because its cargo hold could not be opened; that option was abandoned due to weight concerns.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Although *Hermes* was originally viewed as fully reusable (up to 30 re-entries before major service), the limited capacity of the Ariane 5 launcher forced it to leave the Resource Module in orbit. A new resource module would be attached to the *Hermes* and the entire structure would be launched again.

Phase 1 was not completed until the end of 1991 and by then the political climate had changed considerably. The [Iron Curtain](/source/Iron_Curtain) had been lifted and the [Cold War](/source/Cold_War) was ending. As a result, ESA commenced a year-long "reflection" period to determine whether it still made sense for Europe to build its own space shuttle and space station or if new partners could be found to share cost and development. Officially, Phase 1 completed at the end of 1992.

### *Phase 2: Final development, manufacture & initial operations.*

Phase 2 never began, after ESA and the [Russian Aviation and Space Agency](/source/Russian_Aviation_and_Space_Agency) (RKA) agreed to cooperate on future launchers and a replacement space station for [Mir](/source/Mir). Economic concerns prevented RKA from participating in a future launcher program, but at this point ESA's crew transport needs were reoriented towards the capsule system (as opposed to the glider system of *Hermes*) called for by the joint Russian/European designs.

When both Russia and ESA joined with [NASA](/source/NASA) to build the [International Space Station](/source/International_Space_Station), the need for a European crew transport system was eliminated because Russian and American needs were already satisfied. Accordingly, ESA abandoned the *Hermes* project.

## Design

Hermes was intended as a [reusable launch system](/source/Reusable_launch_system) to transport [astronauts](/source/Astronaut) and moderate-size cargo payloads into [low Earth orbit](/source/Low_Earth_orbit) (LEO) and back.[3] Hermes bears a resemblance to other [reusable launch vehicles](/source/Reusable_launch_vehicle) such as the [Space Shuttle](/source/Space_Shuttle). However, unlike the Space Shuttle, Hermes could not carry heavy cargoes as that role was to be performed by the uncrewed [Ariane 5](/source/Ariane_5).[9] Hermes was envisioned to transport a maximum of three astronauts[10] along with a 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) pressurized payload. The launch weight would be up to 21,000 kg (46,000 lb), the practical upper limit of an extended Ariane 5 launcher.

Hermes was to be launched as the upper stage of the Ariane 5. Prior to the 1986 redesign, *Hermes* was a single spaceplane containing (front to back) a crew compartment for six, an airlock, an unpressurized cargo hold similar to Buran's and the Shuttle's, and a service module.[11] After the 1986 *Challenger* accident it was substantially redesigned.[12] The crew cabin shrank to carry three astronauts, with the cargo hold pressurized and unable to carry or retrieve satellites. *Hermes* now consisted of two separate sections: the vehicle itself and a cone-shaped Resource Module having a docking mechanism attached to the vehicle's rear, which was detached and discarded prior to [re-entry](/source/Atmospheric_entry). Only the crewed vehicle would re-enter Earth's atmosphere and be re-used. The Resource Module and the launcher would be expended.[9] When launching the Hermes, the Ariane 5 would have had its upper stage replaced by the space plane and an adaptor to mate the vehicle to the main [cryogenic](/source/Cryogenic) stage. The equipment bay of the launcher would also be removed and the spaceplane would perform all guidance and control functions.[4] The development of the Ariane 5 was strongly influenced by the requirements of *Hermes*, such as the extra aerodynamic loads along with an increased reliability factor of 0.9999, while retaining minimal impact on the launcher's commercial competitiveness on non-*Hermes* missions.[4]

In comparison to the Space Shuttle, *Hermes* was substantially smaller.[4] It did not share the [ogival planform](/source/Wing_configuration#Chord_variation_along_span) of the Shuttle, instead opting for a highly-[swept](/source/Swept_wing) [delta wing](/source/Delta_wing) complete with [wingtip devices](/source/Wingtip_device), similar to the proposed [Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar](/source/Boeing_X-20_Dyna-Soar) spacecraft. Like the Shuttle, the pressurised cabin could seat more than five people, two of whom would serve as pilots, while the unpressurised aft cargo bay would have been fitted with large doors spanning the length of the bay along the fuselage.[13] The vehicle would have been powered by a pair of 2,000N-thrust liquid propellant [rocket motors](/source/Rocket_motor) identical to those used on the L4 low-energy upper stage of the Ariane 5.[4]

Aerodynamic control would have been provided via a total of seven [flight control surfaces](/source/Flight_control_surfaces), the wingtip [rudders](/source/Rudder), [trailing edge](/source/Trailing_edge) [elevon](/source/Elevon)/[air brakes](/source/Air_brake_(aeronautics)), and a body-mounted [flap](/source/Flap_(aeronautics)); these surfaces would have been controlled via quadruplex-redundant [digital flight controls](/source/Fly-by-wire) and actuated via triplex-redundant hydraulics.[4] Mission management would have been performed via three general-purpose computers, a monitoring computer, and three digital [databuses](/source/Bus_(computing)). Electrical power was to be provided by a [motor](/source/Motor) that would have used [liquid oxygen](/source/Liquid_oxygen)-[liquid hydrogen](/source/Liquid_hydrogen) along with ten US-built [fuel cells](/source/Fuel_cell).[5] The environmental control and life support systems supply [pressurisation](/source/Cabin_pressurization) of the cabin, along with air, water, and warmth, to support the crew for a maximum of 40 days, although may have been potentially extendable to enable 90 day missions. *Hermes* could have operated autonomously for up to one month, and would be able to remain docked with an orbiting space station for a maximum of 90 days.[5]

According to CNES, *Hermes* would have been subject to more extreme re-entry conditions than the Space Shuttle due to its smaller size exposing the vehicle to higher aerothermal pressures.[14] The baseline thermal protection,[15] was to withstand temperatures of 1,400-1,600 °C for a minimum of 20 minutes and studied by Dassault and SEP, would have consisted of [carbon](/source/Carbon) elements with an anti-[oxidant](/source/Oxidant) coating applied to portions of the nose and [leading edges](/source/Leading_edge) of the wings, while thermal tiles were to have covered the underside of the wing and fuselage.[14] These tiles would have employed thin, reinforced [ceramic](/source/Ceramic)-carbon honeycomb [composite](/source/Composite_material) insulating layers separated by thin sheets of metal [alloy](/source/Alloy) to reflect the heat; an alternative concept for the tiles would have employed higher metallic portions in place of ceramics. The upper surfaces of the vehicle would have been subject to less heat than the lower surfaces, and used flexible blanket-like low-density, glassfibre-ceramic layers.[14]

The shape of Hermes had been effectively frozen by November 1985.[14] It was refined by subsonic [wind tunnel](/source/Wind_tunnel) testing in the Onera, constrained by the requirements of subsonic flight. In order to gather valuable data in the face of Europe's lack of experience, Dassault proposed validating the aerodynamic properties of the vehicle by completing a 1.4-[tonne](/source/Tonne), 1-scale aerothermal demonstrator, named *Maia*, to be launched by an [Ariane 4](/source/Ariane_4) for re-entry studies.[16]

### Mission profiles and infrastructure

Four typical missions were projected for *Hermes*:

- Hosting onboard experiments while in an equatorial 800 km (500 mi) altitude orbit

- Flights to NASA's [space station *Freedom*](/source/Space_Station_Freedom) at a 28.5° inclination orbit

- Flights to ESA's [space station *Columbus*](/source/Columbus_Man-Tended_Free_Flyer) at a 60° orbit.

- Flights to ESA's uncrewed [remote sensing](/source/Remote_sensing) *Polar Platform* at a 98° 500 km (310 mi) orbit

After each mission, Hermes would be refurbished at a dedicated facility in Europe.[17] Around 40 days prior to a launch date, the vehicle would be transported on a specially-modified [Airbus A300](/source/Airbus_A300) airliner to its launch site in [Kourou](/source/Kourou), [French Guiana](/source/French_Guiana), where it would be integrated with its payload and installed atop an Ariane 5 rocket prior to being transferred to the launch pad. Mission control was to be based at [Toulouse](/source/Toulouse), France.[17] During a typical mission, communications and tracking would have been performed by a planned European network of data relay satellites with coverage across 75% of a Hermes mission at a 28.5° orbit at an altitude of 400 km (250 mi).

Following a mission, Hermes would land at [Istres-Le Tubé Air Base](/source/Istres-Le_Tub%C3%A9_Air_Base) near [Istres](/source/Istres).[17] Other potential landing sites were mooted, including [Guiana Space Centre](/source/Guiana_Space_Centre), [Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport](/source/Martinique_Aim%C3%A9_C%C3%A9saire_International_Airport) on the island of [Fort de France](/source/Fort_de_France) and unspecified airstrips in [Bermuda](/source/Bermuda). In the event of an aborted launch during the first 84 seconds, *Hermes* would be able to return to Kourou. A later abort would likely necessitate a water landing in the [Atlantic Ocean](/source/Atlantic_Ocean), after which the vehicle would need to be retrieved by a recovery ship. Other emergency landing strips were to be designated, dependent upon the specifics of each mission.[17]

## Mockups and models

Hermes mockup behind French president [Mitterrand](/source/Fran%C3%A7ois_Mitterrand). Photo taken at Toulouse in 1987.

Hermes mockup on display during the [Sevilla Expo 92](/source/Seville_Expo_'92)

A full-scale mockup was built in 1986,[18] and was shown in 1987 at [Le Bourget](/source/Mus%C3%A9e_de_l'air_et_de_l'espace) in May, followed by [Madrid](/source/Madrid) in September and [Toulouse](/source/Toulouse) during October - November. In 1988 the mockup was shown at [Strasbourg](/source/Strasbourg) in Abril, [Hanover](/source/Hanover) in May, and [Bordeaux](/source/Bordeaux) in December. With the end of the project in 1993, this mockup was transferred to [ENSICA](/source/ENSICA) (*École nationale supérieures d'ingénieurs de construction aéronautique*) in 1996. In 2005 it was brought to [Le Bourget](/source/Mus%C3%A9e_de_l'air_et_de_l'espace) to await a possible restoration project.[18]

A 1/7 scale model built by [EADS](/source/EADS) has been on display since 2002 at the [Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport](/source/Bordeaux%E2%80%93M%C3%A9rignac_Airport).[18]

## In media

- A 1994 [The Simpsons](/source/The_Simpsons) episode called *Deep Space Homer* features a Hermes inspired shuttle design.[19]

- The 2015 film *[*The Martian*](/source/The_Martian_(film))* features a ship named *Hermes*, although the design is radically different from the shuttle design in real life, and is designed for interplanetary travel.

- The 2017 film *[Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets](/source/Valerian_and_the_City_of_a_Thousand_Planets)*'s novelization mentions *Hermes* as the shuttle used by ESA during its first expedition to the [International Space Station](/source/International_Space_Station) (identified as "Alpha").

## See also

- [Hopper](/source/Hopper_(spacecraft)) – 1990s European proposal of a robotic spaceplane

- [Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle](/source/Intermediate_eXperimental_Vehicle) – ESA re-entry vehicle prototype

- [SOAR](/source/SOAR_(spaceplane)) – 2015 Swiss spaceplane concept based on the Hermes design

- [Dream Chaser](/source/Dream_Chaser) – US reusable automated cargo lifting-body spaceplane

## References

### Citations

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Martin Bayer, *Hermes: Learning from our mistakes*, Space Policy, Volume 11, Number 3, August 1995, pp. 171-180(10)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Howell, Elizabeth (February 9, 2015). ["Europe's Experimental Mini-Space Shuttle to Launch Wednesday"](https://www.space.com/28497-europe-ixv-mini-space-shuttle-launch.html). *Space.com*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-moxon_24_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-moxon_24_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-moxon_24_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-moxon_24_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-moxon_24_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-moxon_24_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-moxon_24_3-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-moxon_24_3-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-moxon_24_3-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-moxon_24_3-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-moxon_24_3-10) Moxon, Warwick and Sedbon 1985, p. 24.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-moxon_25_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-moxon_25_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-moxon_25_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-moxon_25_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-moxon_25_4-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-moxon_25_4-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-moxon_25_4-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-moxon_25_4-7) Moxon, Warwick and Sedbon 1985, p. 25.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-moxon_25_26_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-moxon_25_26_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-moxon_25_26_5-2) Moxon, Warwick and Sedbon 1985, pp. 25-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Europe and Asia in Space"](https://books.google.com/books?id=_K_cmWVA0xEC&dq=%22Hermes%22+spacecraft+-wikipedia&pg=PA32). USAF Phillips Laboratory. October 15, 1991 – via Google Books.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["The Week in Germany"](https://books.google.com/books?id=KNZVAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22Hermes%22+spacecraft+-wikipedia&pg=RA48-PA6). German Information Center. October 15, 1986 – via Google Books.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Space Station Systems: Supplement"](https://books.google.com/books?id=qfBTAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22Hermes%22+spacecraft+-wikipedia&pg=RA3-PA174). Scientific and Technical Information Branch, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. October 15, 1986 – via Google Books.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-moxon_24_25_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-moxon_24_25_9-1) Moxon, Warwick and Sedbon 1985, pp. 24-25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Blanc, Alain; Mosnier, Alain (September 1, 1990). ["Hermes avionics"](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1990sis..symp.....B). *AIAA and NASA, 2nd International Symposium on Space Information Systems*. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1990sis..symp.....B](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1990sis..symp.....B) – via NASA ADS.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Hermès l' avion spatial français 1985"](http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/hermes/1985.htm).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Hermès l' avion spatial français 1986-1987"](http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/hermes/1986_87.htm).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-moxon_25_27_13-0)** Moxon, Warwick and Sedbon 1985, pp. 25, 27.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-moxon_26_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-moxon_26_14-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-moxon_26_14-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-moxon_26_14-3) Moxon, Warwick and Sedbon 1985, p. 26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Bacos, M. P.; Parlier, M. (December 1, 1988). ["Phenomena encountered by the thermal protection materials during Hermes reentry"](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1988STIA...8929274B). *NASA STI/Recon Technical Report A*. 1988–122: 29274. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1988STIA...8929274B](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1988STIA...8929274B) – via NASA ADS.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-moxon_26_27_16-0)** Moxon, Warwick and Sedbon 1985, pp. 26-27.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-moxon_27_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-moxon_27_17-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-moxon_27_17-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-moxon_27_17-3) Moxon, Warwick and Sedbon 1985, p. 27.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_18-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_18-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-auto_18-2) ["Hermès l' avion spatial français 1991-1993"](http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/hermes/expo.htm). *www.capcomespace.net*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["The Mystery Of The Space Shuttle In That Simpsons Episode Where Homer Went To Space"](https://jalopnik.com/the-mystery-of-the-space-shuttle-in-that-simpsons-episo-1797280453). *Jalopnik*. 27 July 2017.

### Bibliography

- Van den Abeelen, Luc. ["Spaceplane HERMES - Europe's Dream of Independent Manned Spaceflight."](https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783319444703).

- Moxon, Julian, Graham Warwick and Gilbert Sedbon. ["Hermes: France forces the pace."](https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%203142.html) *Flight International*, 30 November 1985. pp. 24–27.

## External links

- [*Hermes* at Astronautix.com](https://web.archive.org/web/20160820192213/http://www.astronautix.com/h/hermes.html)

- [*Hermes* at Aerospaceguide.net](http://www.aerospaceguide.net/hermes.html)

- [1:1 Mockup photos, including cockpit](http://www.pyperpote.tonsite.biz/listinmae/index.php/les-appareils-en-reserve/les-reserves-du-musee-de-l-air/333-hermes-avion-spatial-europeen)

- [HERMES, l' avion spatial inachevé...](http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/hermes/index.htm)

v t e European human spaceflight General European Astronaut Corps ISS contribution ELIPS Terrae Novae Facilities European Astronaut Centre Columbus Control Centre German Space Operations Center Concordia Station Earth-based activities AMASE Concordia winterovers Euro-MARS European Space Camp MARS-500 MELiSSA NEEMO CAVES PANGAEA Companies Airbus Defence and Space Spartan Space Thales Alenia Space The Exploration Company Crewed spacecraft Active Soyuz-MS Dragon 2 Orion ESM Planned & proposed Gaganyaan Nyx Lince SUSIE Retired Soyuz-TM Soyuz-TMA Soyuz TMA-M Space Shuttle Spacelab EURECA MPLM Cancelled CSTS Kliper Hermes Skylon Space stations Active ISS Columbus Columbus EPF Cupola Bartolomeo ERA Planned & proposed Haven-1 Starlab Bharatiya Antariksh Station Retired Mir Euromir Cancelled Columbus MTFF Lunar Gateway ESPRIT Lunar I-Hab Cargo spacecraft Planned & proposed LEO Cargo Return Service Nyx Argonaut (lunar) Retired ATV Missions Space Shuttle STS-9 (1983) Deutschland-1 (1985) STS-42 (1992) STS-46 (1992) Deutschland-2 (1993) STS-61 (1993) STS-66 (1994) STS-75 (1996) STS-95 (1998) STS-103 (1999) STS-99 (2000) Mir Euromir 94 (1994) Euromir 95 (1995) STS-84 (1997) ISS (visit & assembly) STS-100 (2001) Andromède (2001) Marco Polo (2002) STS-111 (2002) Odissea (2002) Cervantes (2003) DELTA (2004) Eneide (2005) Celsius (2006) Esperia (2007) STS-122 (2008) Alissé (2009) DAMA (2011) IrISS (2015) ISS (expedition) Astrolab (2006) OasISS (2009) MagISStra (2010) PromISSe (2011) Volare (2013) Blue Dot (2014) Futura (2014) Principia (2015) Proxima (2016) Vita (2017) Horizons (2018) Beyond (2019) Alpha (2021) Cosmic Kiss (2021) Minerva (2022) Huginn (2023) Epsilon (2026) ISS (private) Muninn (2024) Ignis (2025) PAM-6 (2027) Private space stations Vast-1 (2027) Artemis program Artemis III (2027) European Space Agency

v t e Reusable launch systems and spacecraft Launch systems Active Falcon 9 (first stage) Falcon Heavy (core stages) New Glenn (first stage) New Shepard* (fully reusable) Retired Space Shuttle (orbiter and boosters) Petrel* (booster) Skua* (booster) In development Ariane Next CALLISTO* CORONA Kinetica-2 (boosters and central core) RLV-TD* Starship (SpaceX) Stoke Space Nova Vulcan (engines) First stage Amur (Soyuz-7) Eclipse Gravity-2 Hyperbola-3 Long March 10A 10B 12A 12B Maia Miura 5 Nebula 1 2 Pallas 1 2 Neutron Terran R Tianlong-3 Zhuque-3 Proposals Kankoh-maru SASSTO Saturn-Shuttle Canceled Adeline Angara Ares I (first stage) Ares V (boosters) Chang Cheng-1 Electron (reuse efforts only) Energia II (Uragan) Falcon 1e Falcon 5 Nexus Hyperbola-2 HOPE-X Hopper / Phoenix HOTOL K-1 Liquid Fly-back Booster Long March 6X (first stage) 8R (first stage) MAKS Prime Reusable Booster System Roton Sea Dragon Skylon Tianjiao-1 Spiral V-2 VentureStar Spacecraft Active Boeing Starliner (capsule) Boeing X-37 New Shepard* (capsule) Dragon 2 Shenlong Retired Dragon (capsule) Gemini SC-2* SpaceShipOne* SpaceShipTwo* Space Shuttle orbiter X-15* In development Dream Chaser Mengzhou (capsule) Orel (spacecraft) (capsule) Orion (capsule) Starship upper stage Proposals Avatar Goodyear Meteor Junior Ya Guidao Gainian Feixingqi* SUSIE Cancelled Buran-class orbiter (never actually reused, flew just once) H-2 Kliper Lynx* Mustard Silver Dart SOAR X-30 NASP* X-33* SpaceShipThree* * indicates suborbital vehicles

v t e Spaceplanes Canada Wild Fire China Project 921-3 Shenlong Europe Canceled ARES Bristol Ascender, Spacebus, Spacecab Falke Hermes Hopper HOTOL MUSTARD Orizont S3 SOAR Saenger Silbervogel Historical IXV In development Airbus Skylon Space Rider SpaceLiner India Canceled AVATAR In development RLV-TD Hypersonic Flight Experiment Japan HYFLEX/OREX/ALFLEX HOPE-X WIRES Soviet Union/Russia BOR-4 BOR-5 Buran Explorer Keldysh bomber Kliper Lapotok LKS MAKS (Molniya) RAKS (Tu-444/2000) Spiral Zvezda (Tu-136/139) United States Active Boeing X-37 Historical North American X-15 ASSET Martin X-23 PRIME SpaceShipOne Space Shuttle (program, Shuttle–Mir Program) SpaceShipTwo Canceled Chrysler SERV DARPA Falcon Project Martin Marietta Spacemaster X-20 Dyna-Soar Orbital Sciences X-34 Rockwell X-30 (NASP) NASA X-43 Silver Dart HL-20 HL-42 Rocketplane XP VentureStar Black Horse NASA X-38 (Spacewedge) XCOR Lynx Xerus Prometheus DARPA XS-1 SpaceShipThree In development Dream Chaser Radian One Black projects Blackstar TR-3A Black Manta X-41 Common Aero Vehicle Aurora aircraft Military flying saucers

v t e Ariane rocket family Rockets Current Ariane 6 In development Ariane Next Retired Ariane 1 Ariane 2 Ariane 3 Ariane 4 Ariane 5 Launch sites Guiana Space Centre (Kourou) ELA-1 ELA-2 ELA-3 ELA-4 Engines Aestus HM7B P120C P160C Viking Vinci Vulcain Launches List of launches 1979–1989 1990–1999 2000–2009 2010–2019 2020–2029 Flights VA240 VA241 VA242 VA244 VA243 VA245 VA246 VA247 VA248 VA253 VA254 VA255 VA256 VA260 VA261 VA262 Organizations Manufacturing ArianeGroup Airbus Space Aérospatiale (merged) Safran Aircraft Engines Beyond Gravity MT Aerospace SABCA Nammo Launch provider Arianespace Related European Space Agency CNES Related Proposals SUSIE Cancelled Adeline Ariane 5 ME DC4EU Hermes Liquid fly-back booster Retired Automated Transfer Vehicle Europa Category Multimedia

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hermes (spacecraft)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes_(spacecraft)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermes_(spacecraft)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.