Spacecraft

Mission

Crew

Operational Period

Mercury

Demonstrate feasibility of manned space flight

1 man

1961-1963

Gemini

Develop advanced space flight technology for Apollo (rendezvous and docking, work outside of spacecraft, 14-day duration flight, etc.)

2 men

1965-1966

Apollo Command/Service Modules (CSM)

Support lunar exploration and earth orbit studies

3 men

1968-1975

Apollo Lunar Module (LM)

Provide base for lunar exploration

2 men

1969-1972

Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV)

Enable exploration at remote distances from the Lunar Module

2

1971-1972

Skylab space station

Study earth and sun environments, human physiology, material processing

3 men

May 1973-February 1974

Space Shuttle

Provide routine access to space

2 to 8

1981-Present

Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU)

Allow astronaut to maneuver outside of  the Space Shuttle payload bay

1

1984