Sub-orbital spaceflight

A sub-orbital spaceflight (or sub-orbital flight) is a spaceflight that does not involve putting a vehicle into orbit. Manned and unmanned sub-orbital flights have been undertaken to test spacecraft and launch vehicles intended for later orbital flight, but some vehicles have been designed exclusively to reach space sub-orbitally: manned vehicles such as the X-15 and SpaceShipOne, and unmanned ones such as ICBMs and sounding rockets.

Related Topics:
Spaceflight - Orbit - Spacecraft - Launch vehicle - X-15 - SpaceShipOne - ICBM - Sounding rocket

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The sub-orbital spaceflight should not be confused with a partial orbital spaceflight: a low Earth orbit, with deorbiting after less than one full orbit, as in the Fractional Orbital Bombardment System.

Related Topics:
Low Earth orbit - Fractional Orbital Bombardment System

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~