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- What's the difference between a capsule and a spacecraft?
Technically, a spacecraft may be controlled in flight by a pilot onboard. Mercury astronauts were insistent that their vehicles be maneuverable and that they had control, unlike the earlier chimp and robot-crewed flights. With no disrespect intended, Yuri Gagarin flew in a capsule, controlled from the ground (his instrument panel was locked up), Alan Shepard piloted a spacecraft.
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- What is a boilerplate?
A boilerplate is the name of an engineering mockup. They are generally built to tougher standards than the actual vehicle to take the punishment of many tests. Tests included ocean towing, helicopter drops, hard landings, flammability tests, and many others, including actual launches to space. Some boilerplates were reused and issued new numbers, which indicates a major modification. These are what are most often seen displayed outdoors in parks across the country.
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- Why do you include the X-15 aircraft?
The U.S. Air Force set the arbitrary height of 80,000 meters (50 miles) as the threshold of space. Above that altitude, the atmosphere is so thin pilots must were full pressure suits with oxygen. Any pilot who flies over 50 miles earns astronaut wings. Also, the x-15 was equipped with attitude thrusters on its wings to maneuver while at altitude, due to lack of atmosphere. These facts have led many to claim the X-15 as the first spacecraft to make runway landings.
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- Why don't you include Lunar Rover vehicles?
LRVs are not included because they are not spacecraft - they are lunar craft. This might be splitting hairs, so if you know of the location of any LRVs, let me know for a future listing.
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- What about Russian/Soviet spacecraft?
Vehicles from the former Soviet Union are a little harder to track down, mostly because there is no Russian equivalent to the Smithsonian Institute to catalogue and preserve artifacts.
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- Why doesn't a page come up when I click on the green ball?
E-mail me and I'll correct it.
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- Why doesn't a link work?
E-mail me and I'll correct it!
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- Why is the phone number wrong?
E-mail me and I'll correct it!
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- Why haven't I received credit for a contribution?
E-MAIL ME AND I'LL CORRECT IT!
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- Why don't you include Voyager (Pathfinder, Viking, etc.) on your list?
I decided to concentrate on Manned Spacecraft only, but intend to include a section on space probes in the near future. Do you know where any are?
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- Why isn't the model at _________ listed?
E-mail me and I'll check it out. If it is a full sized representation of an actual vehicle, I will include it and give you credit.
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