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, including the world's first manned spacecraft
Vostok and
Mercury, as well as in later Soviet
Voskhod,
Soyuz,
Zond/L1,
L3,
TKS, US
Gemini, Apollo Command Module, Chinese
Shenzhou and US, Russian and Indian manned spacecraft currently being developed. A capsule is the specified form for the
Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle.