Glossary of Space
Glossary of Space :
arc - a part of a circle
array - a group of items arranged in rows and columns
atmospheric pressure - the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on the Earth’s surface
cargo bay - a compartment in a space shuttle used during take off for storing devices such as satellites
combustion chamber - the part of a cylinder where the explosion of the air-fuel mixture takes place
diameter - the longest distance from one side of an object to the other passing through the centre
drag - resistance that slows an object down
flyby - a fight at a low altitude over a planet
gravity - the force that attracts oil bodies in the Universe to each other
Houston - the largest city in the state of Texas, USA, where NASA is based
lander - a space vehicle that is designed to land on another planet
lunar module - the section of the Apollo spacecraft designed to land on the Moon
monitor - to record an activity or process
nebulae - clouds of gas and dust in space
nuclear fusion - two atoms coming together and giving off huge amounts of energy
optical telescope - an astronomical telescope designed to collect and record light from cosmic sources
orbit - the path that an object makes around another object whilst under the influence of gravity
orbiter - a spacecraft whose purpose is to orbit around a planet
ozone - a form of oxygen, usually found in the stratosphere, one responsible for flittering out much of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation
ozone hole - a hole in the protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere
probe - an unmanned spacecraft which collects information about objects in space and sends it back to scientists on Earth
propel - to push or drive forward
quarantined - the isolation of people or animals for a period of time to ensure they don't spread disease
radiation belt - a region of charged particles trapped in the Earth's magnetic held
reflecting telescope - a telescope which uses a mirror to gather and focus light from a distant object
refracting telescope - a telescope which uses a lens to gather and focus light from a distant object
resolution - the sharpness or clarity of on image
satellite - device that orbits the Earth and can be used for monitoring the weather, communications, etc.
Soviet Union - a former communist country in eastern Europe and northern Asia established in 1922 - included Russia and 14 other republics - this group has split up and no longer exists.
space race - battle between the United States and the Soviet Union for dominance in space exploration
Glossary of Space :
