A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle that obtains thrust from a rocket engine. The rocket is a jet propulsion device that ejects back at high speed with hot air flow and moves forward with the generated reaction force. It carries combustion agents and oxidants, does not rely on oxygen in the air for combustion, and can fly in the atmosphere as well as in outer space. In fact, rockets work more efficiently in space than in an atmosphere. Modern rockets can be used as fast and long-distance delivery vehicles, as sounding, launching satellites, manned spacecraft, space station delivery vehicles, and other aircraft boosters. The warhead ( warhead ) that can be used for delivery operations constitutes a rocket weapon, of which the guided one is called a missile and the unguided one is called a rocket.

A space capsule is an often manned spacecraft which has a simple shape for the main section, without any wings or other features to create lift during atmospheric reentry. Capsules have been used in most of the manned space programs to date. A manned space capsule must have everything necessary for everyday life, including air, water and food. The space capsule must also protect astronauts from the cold and radiation of space. A capsule must be well insulated and have a system that controls the inside temperature and environment. One of the most important things that a space capsule must have is a way to communicate with people back on Earth, or mission control.

A Lunar lander or Moon lander is a kind of lander (spacecraft) designed to conduct a Moon landing. The design requirements for these landers depend on factors imposed by the payload characteristics and purpose, flight rate, propulsive requirements, and configuration constraints. Other important design factors include overall energy requirements, mission duration, the type of mission operations on the lunar surface, and life support system if crewed. The lack of lunar atmosphere negates the use of aerobraking, so a lander must use propulsion to decelerate and achieve a soft landing.

An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft. Although generally reserved for professional space travelers, the terms are sometimes applied to anyone who travels into space. While no nation other than the Russian Federation (and previously the former Soviet Union), the United States, and China have launched a manned spacecraft, several other nations have sent people into space in cooperation with one of these countries.