Space Shuttle
1981-2011
The partially reusable spaceplane. 135 flights over 30 years: it carried Hubble into orbit, built the ISS, and flew 350+ different astronauts.
Specs
135 flights (1981-2011); 5 orbiters built (Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, Endeavour); 2 lost (Challenger 1986, Columbia 2003); the orbiter glided home - it had no engine for landing.
Why it matters
The wings only slowed reentry; the heat shield did the real work. It also captured, repaired and upgraded Hubble in orbit with astronaut spacewalks - something no 'drone fleet' has ever done.