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Space Logistics Cargo Spacecraft from the Past to the Future

To be included in this timeline, the spacecraft needs to have delivered cargo to the ISS or Tiangong space stations. Also included are planned and proposed spacecraft that may be used to deliver cargo to those space stations, as well as future space stations in LEO or cisLunar space.

To see a timeline of all crewed spacecraft see Crewed Spacecraft from the Past to the Future – A Quick Overview. To see a timeline of all current and planned or proposed space stations see Space Stations Current and Future – A Quick Overview.

Note that both crewed and uncrewed autonomous spacecraft are, and will be, used to deliver cargo to space stations in LEO or cisLunar space.

1998 to present

🇺🇸 ISS

Operational
LEO

1981 to 2011

🇺🇸 Space Shuttle

Retired
LEO
Crew and cargo, delivery and return
Reusable

1967 to present

🇺🇸 Soyuz

Operational
LEO
Crew and cargo, delivery and return
Expendable

1978 to present

🇷🇺 Progress

Operational
LEO
Cargo only, delivery only
Expendable

2008 to 2015

🇪🇺 Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV)

Retired
LEO
Cargo only, delivery only
Expendable

2009 to 2020

🇯🇵 H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)

Retired
LEO
Cargo only, delivery only
Expendable

2010 to 2020

🇺🇸 Dragon Cargo

Retired
LEO
Cargo only, delivery and return
Partially reusable

2016 to present

🇺🇸 Cygus

Operational
LEO
Cargo only, delivery only
Expendable

2019 to present

🇺🇸 Dragon 2

Operational
LEO
Crew and cargo, delivery and return
Partially reusable

2019 to present

🇺🇸 Starliner

In development
LEO
Crew and cargo, delivery and return
Partially reusable

2003 to present

🇨🇳 Shenzhou

Operational
LEO, Tiangong
Crew and cargo, delivery and return
Expendable

2017 to present

🇨🇳 Tianzhou

Operational
LEO, Tiangong
Cargo only, delivery only
Expendable

2022 to present

🇺🇸 Cargo Dragon 2

Operational
LEO
Cargo only, delivery and return
Partially reusable

2021 to present

🇨🇳 Tiangong Space Station

Operational
LEO

2022E

🇺🇸🇪🇺 Orion

In development
cisLunar
Cargo and crew, delivery and return
Expendable

2023E

🇺🇸 Dream Chaser

In development
LEO
Cargo only, delivery and return
Reusable

2023E

🇯🇵 HTV-X

In development
LEO
Cargo only, delivery only
Expendable

2024E

🇺🇸 Starship Crew

In development
LEO, cisLunar
Crew and cargo, delivery and return
Reusable

2024E

🇺🇸 Gateway Space Station

In development
cisLunar

2024E

🇺🇸 Human Landing System (HLS)

In development
cisLunar, lunar surface
Crew and cargo, delivery and return
Reusable

2025E

🇺🇸 Dream Chaser Crew

In development
LEO
Cargo and crew, delivery and return
Reusable

2030E

🇺🇸 ISS

Retirement

No Forecast

🇺🇸 Starship Cargo

Proposed
LEO, cisLunar
Cargo, delivery and return
Reusable

No Forecast

🇷🇺 Argo

Proposed
LEO
Cargo only, delivery and return
Reusable

No Forecast

🇷🇺 Soyuz GVK

Proposed
LEO
Cargo only, delivery and return
Expendable

No Forecast

🇺🇸 Dragon XL

Proposed
cisLunar
Cargo only, delivery only
Expendable

No Forecast

🇺🇸 HTV-XG

Proposed
cisLunar
Cargo only, delivery only
Expendable

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