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Differences Between a Space Station & a Spaceship

Ancient people saw the stars as a clock, a calendar, a travel aid and a guide to the future. With the development of technology such as telescopes, scientists began looking at the heavens for clues about the nature of the universe itself. Since the mid-20th century scientists have been aided in their exploration with spaceships and space stations.

Spaceship
- A spaceship, or spacecraft, is designed for journeys into outer space. Satellites and unmanned spaceships observe the universe, aid long-distance communications, transmit television or radio signals, track the weather and explore the solar system. Manned spacecraft carry astronauts or cosmonauts on short-term space missions where they conduct experiments that help understand the universe, collect data about the solar system or repair damaged satellites and space vehicles.
Famous Spaceships
- In 1957 the former Soviet Union launched a simple, unmanned satellite called "Sputnik." Later that year, a Soviet dog named Laika became the first living creature in space on board "Sputnik 2." In April, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space on board the spacecraft "Vostok." In May of the same year, astronaut Alan Shepherd became the first American in space on board the "Freedom 7." In 1962, astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth on board "Friendship 7." In 1965, Soviet spent 10 minutes outside his "Voskshod"spacecraft as the first person to perform a "spacewalk." On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin from "Apollo 11" became the first men to walk on the moon.
Unmanned Spaceships
- Visible light passes through the Earth's atmosphere. However, the atmosphere blocks many forms of electromagnetic radiation such as gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet light and infrared light. Orbiting observatories such as the Hubble telescope, the International UV Explorer and the Infra-Red Astronomy Satellite use these forms of radiation to gather data about distance stars, galaxies and other objects that isn't revealed by light alone. Spacecraft such as Voyagers 1 and 2, Pioneers 10 and 11, Mariner 10, Viking and the Mars Global Surveyor have visited the far reaches of the solar system and sent back important data about Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
Space Stations
- Space stations such as "Skylab," "Salyut," "MIR" and the "International Space Station" are large satellites used for long-term missions in Earth orbit such as zero-gravity materials processing, astronomical observation and satellite refueling and repair. Astronauts or cosmonauts live on board for weeks or months at a time conducting experiments and studying effects of space travel on the human body. According to the futurist Philip R. Harris, as the 21st century progresses, humanity will develop a space-faring civilization. Entire colonies of people from this civilization will live and work in space stations on a permanent basis.

Astronomy