Space Science Vocabulary

Blockhouse
A reinforced-concrete structure, often built underground or partly underground, and sometimes dome-shaped, to provide protection against blast, heat, or explosion during rocket launchings or related activities, specifically, such a structure at a launch site that houses electronic control instruments used in launching a rocket.

Boilerplate
A full-sized mockup that has all of the mechanical characteristics of the true item but none of the functional features.

Booster
An engine that assists the normal propulsive system of a vehicular or other system of a vehicle.

Space science vocabulary

Biosphere
That part of the earth and its atmosphere in which animal and plants live.

Blackout
1. A fadeout of radio communications due to environmental factors such as ionospheric disturbances, or a plasma sheath surrounding a reentry vehicle.
2. A condition in which vision is temporarily obscured by a blackness, accompanied by a dullness of certain other senses, brought on by decreased blood pressure in the head and a consequent lack of oxygen, as may occur in any high g-force condition.

Blip
A spot of light or other indicator on a radar scope (cathode-ray tube).

Space Science Vocabulary

Axis
Any of three straight lines, the first running through the center of the fuselage lengthwise, the second at right angles to this and parallel to the horizontal airfoils, and the third perpendicular to the first two at their point of intersection (aircraft).

Azimuth
An arc of the horizon measured between a fixed point (e.g. true north) and the vertical circle through the center of an object.

Ballistic trajectory
The curved portion of a vehicle trajectory traced after the propulsion force is cut off.

Space Science Vocabulary

Astronautics
The art or science of designing, building or operating space vehicles.

Atmosphere
The envelope of gases which surrounds the earth and certain other planets.

Attitude
The position of an aerospace vehicle as determined by the inclination of its axes to some frame of reference, usually the earth’s surface.

Space science vocabulary pt 2

Apogee
The point at which a moon or artificial satellite in its orbit is farthest from the objective it is orbiting.

Asteroid
One of the many thousands of minor planets which revolve around the sun, mostly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

Astrogation
Navigation in space.

Space science vocabulary pt 1

Airborne Data
data obtained from space systems during flight.

Ambient
Environmental conditions such as pressure or temperature

Analog computer
A computing machine that works on the principle of measuring, as distinguished from counting, in which the measurements obtained, as voltages, resistances, etc. are translated into desired data.

Rocket Science Vocabulary - the As

Aerodynamic heating - the rise in the skin temperature of a vehicle due to the friction of the air at high speed.

Aft-firing thrusters - Thrusters that are directed out the large end of the space craft. Their effect on the orbital path depends on the orientation of the spacecraft when they are fired.

Rocket Science Vocabulary - the As

Actuators - Devices which transform an electrical signal into a mechanical motion using hydraulic or pneumatic power.

Adapter skirt - A flange or extension of a stage or section that provides a ready means of fitting another stage or section to it.