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Dictionary defines a space shuttle as "A reusable spacecraft that has wings for controlled descent in the atmosphere, designed to transport astronauts between Earth and orbiting space stations, also used to deploy and retrieve satellites". As it is obvious from the dictionary explanation of "space shuttle" that this space vehicle possesses wings. In fact it is necessary to be mentioned here that the Shuttle is the only winged manned spacecraft that achieves orbit and lands.

The tasks that are assigned to space shuttle include carrying large payloads to a range of orbits (together with segments to be added to the International Space Station (ISS)), making available crew rotation for the International Space Station, and performing service missions. The space shuttle or the orbiter can also handle the recovery of satellites and other payloads from orbit, and can route them back to Earth. This application is rare, however, the Shuttle has previously been utilized to send back large payloads from the ISS to Earth. The designing of the winged vehicles is done in a manner to capacitate them to undertake at least 100 launches or otherwise, should continue to remain operational for ten years.

The winged Shuttle Orbiter generally provides transport for five to seven astronauts (even though eight have been taken) and a payload up to 50,000 lb (22 700 kg) into low earth orbit. This vehicle is launched vertically. With the completion of its mission, the shuttle, by means of its maneuvering thrusters, it can move itself independently, out of orbit and can make reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. The Shuttle Orbiter, during fall and landing, proceeds as a glider and achieves an absolutely un-propelled or powerless landing.

The thought of sending winged crafts to space is no current idea. In fact this idea is as old as the dawn of space age itself. The concept of winged vehicles for space flight has been in the minds of space fanatics since that time. Tsiolkovskiy and Tsander were such Russian scientists, who fancied use of airplanes as a basis for reaching outer space besides other sources.

In the third decade of the last century, specifically in Germany and in the USSR, it was practically attempted to install rocket engine on winged vehicles. At the Reactive Research Institute, RNII, Sergei Korolev and his contemporaries worked on the RP-318 rocket glider, and equipped that with a rocket engine.

The first reusable manned space vehicle devised in Russia was The BURAN orbiter.

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