Editing Spaceplane (section)

=== Space environment ===
Once on-orbit, a spaceplane must be supplied with power by [[solar panel]]s and batteries or [[fuel cell]]s, [[orbital maneuver|maneuvered in space]], kept in thermal equilibrium, [[reaction control system|oriented]], and communicated with. On-orbit thermal and radiological environments impose additional stresses. This is in addition to accomplishing the task the spaceplane was launched to complete, such as satellite deployment or science experiments.{{fact|date=January 2025}}

The Space Shuttle used [[orbital maneuvering system|dedicated engines]] to accomplish orbital maneuvers. These engines used toxic [[hypergolic]] [[rocket propellant|propellants]] that required special handling precautions. Various gases, including [[helium]] for pressurization and [[nitrogen]] for life support, were stored under high pressure in [[composite overwrapped pressure vessel]]s.{{fact|date=January 2025}}