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Astronauts: Glossary
A
- academic
- related to school or studying
- artificial environment
- conditions provided by equipment that allow a person to be comfortable, safe, breathe, keep a normal body temperature, work, etc
- asteroids
- space bodies smaller than planets — many orbit between Mars and Jupiter
- astronaut
- from the Greek meaning "star-sailor"
B
- black holes
- a space body with gravity so intense that even light cannot escape
C
- carbon dioxide
- a gaseous element that is exhaled as a waste product
- chemistry
- science of matter
- cochlear implants
- surgically implanted devices to allow the deaf to hear
- comets
- balls of ice, dust and gas that orbit the sun
- competition
- a rivalry between two groups, such as sports teams
- cosmonaut
- Russian version of an astronaut — "universe-sailor"
D
- docking port
- a door or opening to allow craft to lock up and pass people or equipment through without losing atmosphere
E
- electrical generator
- equipment used for creating electricity
- electrolysis
- passing electricity through a substance to create a chemical change
- engineering
- art of using science, physics, and math in construction
F
- flammable
- capable of catching fire
G
- galaxies
- groups of solar systems and other space bodies; the Milky Way is a galaxy
- gravity
- natural attraction of matter between one body and another
H
- hydrogen
- gaseous element; the most abundant element in the universe; combines with oxygen to form water
- hygiene
- personal care: bathing, brushing teeth, shaving, etc
I
- International Space Station
- also known as ISS — a large construction orbiting the earth; used for science and space study
- innovations
- creative new things
- international
- involving many countries
L
- laboratory
- place to perform experiments, work with chemicals, etc
M
- manned
- requires the aid of a human inside the device to make it work
- mechanical
- having to do with machines
- meteoroids
- small space bodies that can enter Earth's atmosphere and become a meteor
- meteorology
- study of weather
- microgravity
- condition where bodies are in a freefall back to Earth — they appear to be weightless
- micrometeorites
- dust particles found in space
- military
- agencies that protect our country: Army, Navy, Marine Corp, Air Force, and Coast Guard
O
- orbital debris
- also known as space junk; might include bolts, chunks of metal, gloves, tools that have been left in space and are orbiting the Earth
P
- pacemakers
- medical devices that keep a person's heart beating correctly
- photosynthesis
- process by which plants convert sunlight into energy
- physicians
- medical doctors
Q
- qualifications
- knowledge, skills and experience a person might have that fit a specific job
R
- radiation
- energy emitted in particles or waves
- resistant
- to protect
S
- satellites
- anything that orbits the Earth — the moon is a satellite. Also, man-made equipment that provides communication and orbits the Earth. Cell service, television, weather and other information can be transmitted from satellites
- scuba
- self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, i.e., diving equipment; especially the oxygen tank portion
- simulators
- equipment that provides users the opportunity to practice as if someone were in the real environment
- solar panels
- Special materials that convert the sun's energy into electricity
- solar system
- A sun and the bodies that orbit that sun
- spacewalk
- To leave a spacecraft and go out into space in a special suit
- subatomic particles
- particles smaller than an atom
T
- taikonaut
- Chinese version of an astronaut — "space-sailor"
- technology
- application of science to aid mankind
- tethered
- attached
U
- unmanned
- does not require the aid of a human inside the device to make it work — controlled by radio or other methods
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