Archives: Glossary Terms

An electronic system that continuously monitors the position and accelerationHow fast an object’s speedHow fast an object's speed is changing when we apply a force to it. During acceleration, speed increases. During deceleration, speed decreases. More is changing when we apply a forceAn object's increasing speed toward Earth's center, caused by the force of gravity (the force of attraction between two objects). More to it. During accelerationHow fast an object's speed is changing when we apply a force to it. During acceleration, speed increases. During deceleration, speed decreases. More, speedHow fast an object's speed is changing when we apply a force to it. During acceleration, speed increases. During deceleration, speed decreases. More increases. During decelerationThe narrow, 3-dimensional tunnel a vehicle must fly through to successfully re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. It’s boundaries come from limits on the vehicle’s maximum deceleration, maximum heating, and expected landing accuracy. More, speedHow fast an object's speed is changing when we apply a force to it. During acceleration, speed increases. During deceleration, speed decreases. More decreasesThe amount of air within a certain volume. Atmospheric density is higher at sea-level and decreases as you go up in altitude. More. More of a vehicle, like a missile.

The mechanicalA method to maintain a spacecraft’s internal temperatureA method to maintain a spacecraft's internal temperature using a closed-loop control system to measure current temperature and adjust inputs, outputs and internal heat flow. It requires a working fluid, heaters, pumps, or other mechanical devices. More using a closed-loop control systemAn assembly of devices that receive inputs, decide to change the plant conditions, act to change the plant, measure the plant outputs, and adjust the inputs to improve the outputs. More to measure currentWe define current,i, as the rate at which charges flow through a given area, such as the cross section of a wire. The unit for current is amperes (amps), which equals the charges flowing per second. More temperatureA method to maintain a spacecraft's internal temperature using a closed-loop control system to measure current temperature and adjust inputs, outputs and internal heat flow. It requires a working fluid, heaters, pumps, or other mechanical devices. More and adjust inputs, outputs and internal heat flowA method to maintain a spacecraft's internal temperature using a closed-loop control system to measure current temperature and adjust inputs, outputs and internal heat flow. It requires a working fluid, heaters, pumps, or other mechanical devices. More. It requires a working fluid, heaters, pumps, or other mechanicalA method to maintain a spacecraft's internal temperature using a closed-loop control system to measure current temperature and adjust inputs, outputs and internal heat flow. It requires a working fluid, heaters, pumps, or other mechanical devices. More devices. More and electrical connections between the spacecraft payloadAn assembly of spacecraft components that collect, process, store, and transmit payload-mission and bus-housekeeping data. The communication and data-handling subsystem (CDHS) acts as the ears, brain, and mouth of the spacecraft • It has two primary portions — communication and data handling • It translates raw data from the payloads and subsystems into useful information and sends it to the ground system • Commands from ground controllers generally request information from and give specific instructions to individual subsystems More and the busThe bus provides "housekeeping" functions necessary to make the payload work. Includes various subsystems that produce/distribute electrical power, maintain correct temperature, process and store data, communicate with other spacecraft and Earth-bound operators, control the spacecraft's orientation, and hold everything together. More subsystems.