|
Abort |
To end a mission prematurely. |
|
Aerodynamics |
Comes from two
Greek words: aerios (concerning the air) and dynamis
(powerful). Aerodynamics is the study of forces and the resulting
motion of objects through the air. |
|
Aeronautics |
The term
"aeronautics" originated in France, and was derived from the Greek words
for "air" and "to sail." |
|
Astronaut |
A person trained to pilot, navigate,
or otherwise participate as a crew member of a NASA spacecraft. |
|
Astronomy |
The scientific study of matter in
outer space, especially the
positions, dimensions, distribution,
motion, composition, energy,
and evolution of celestial bodies
and phenomena. |
|
Atmosphere |
Gases that cover Earth |
|
CM |
The Command Module, one of
the three mail parts of the Apollo spacecraft. It is shaped like a cone
and is the crew quarters for the astronauts.
|
|
Combustion |
Rapid oxidation or burning. |
|
Cosmonaut |
Russian name for astronaut. |
|
Docking |
When two spacecraft connect
with each other in orbit. |
|
EVA |
Extravehicular activity - a
space walk |
|
Gravity |
The force that pulls two
objects together, such as you and the Earth
|
|
ISS |
Acronym for
International Space Station. |
|
Mercury Seven |
The first seven US astronauts
to participate in the Mercury missions. |
|
Microgravity |
A condition in which the
effects of gravity are greatly reduced. |
|
Microbe |
One of many tiny creatures
that live in, on, and all around us. |
|
Mir |
The Soviet space station
launched Feb. 20, 1986. The name means "peace". |
|
MMU |
Manned Maneuvering Unit, a
special jet-propelled backpack that enables Shuttle astronauts to work
without a tether to the spacecraft. |
|
Module |
Section of a spacecraft that
can hold people. |
|
NASA |
The acronym
for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. |
|
Orbit |
Moving in circles. |
|
Skylab |
US Space Station from
1973-1974. It crashed to the Earth in 1979. |
|
Soyuz |
Soviet spacecraft designed
for three cosmonauts. It means " union".
|
|
Spationaut |
Name given by the French to
their space explorers. |
|
Sputnik |
The first artificial
satellite, launched by the USSR on October 4, 1957. The name means
"traveling companion". |
|
Space
|
The expanse in
which the solar system, stars, and galaxies exist, the universe. The
region of this expanse beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
|
|
Space Travel |
A voyage outside
the Earth's atmosphere. |
|
Taikonautt |
Chinese term for astronaut or
cosmonaut. |
Glossary
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