From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Unmanned resupply spacecraft are a special kind of robotic spacecraft that operate autonomously without a human crew, designed to support space station operation. This is different from space probes, whose missions are to conduct scientific investigations.

Resupply spacecraft have been used since 1978 to service the Salyut 6, Salyut 7, Mir and International Space Station.

Current spacecraft in this category include:

• the Russian Progress spacecraft, used since 1978
• the Russian TKS spacecraft, used from 1981 to 1991
• the European Automated Transfer Vehicle, first launched on 9 March 2008.
• the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle, first launched on 10 September 2009

Future spacecraft in this category may include:

• the American private-sector Dragon spacecraft from SpaceX, with demonstration flights in 2010
• the American private-sector Cygnus spacecraft from Orbital Sciences Corporation, with demonstration flights in 2010

Canceled projects:

• the American private-sector Kistler K-1 from Rocketplane Kistler, canceled October 2007.
• the American private-sector Andrews Cargo Module from Andrews Space, rejected by NASA's COTS program

See also

• Space transport

Unmanned resupply spacecraft Historic TKS Current Automated Transfer Vehicle • H-II Transfer Vehicle • Progress In development Cygnus • Dragon (also manned) Cancelled Kistler K-1 • Andrews Cargo Module