space capsule
Astronaut reentry vehicle
A space capsule is a small spacecraft designed to carry astronauts or cargo, typically cone- or bell-shaped to withstand the heat of atmospheric reentry.
Unlike larger spacecraft, capsules have minimal maneuvering capability and rely on parachutes or splashdowns for landing: The space capsule splashed down in the Pacific.
Protective layer against friction
- ablativeRemoving by erosion
- thermal tilesHeat-resistant protective squares
- plasmaElectrified matter state
- atmosphereGaseous layer around planets
deceleration · parachute · drogue chute · splashdown · touchdown · descent · retrofire · g-forces
Independent functional component
- podSeed case or cetacean group
- vesselReceptacle for contents
- command moduleSpacecraft's control and living section
- service moduleSpacecraft's power and propulsion unit
Soyuz · Apollo · Gemini · Mercury · Vostok · Orion · hatch · porthole
Spacecraft crew member
- cosmonautRussian orbital traveler
- taikonautChinese space traveler
- commanderPerson with authority over others
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
flight engineer · life-support · crew quarters · NASA · ESA · training · simulator · centrifuge
Propulsion-driven spacecraft
- boosterSomething that increases strength
- launchpadRocket departure platform
- liftoffMoment of ascent
- countdownBackward enumeration to zero
ignition · staging · fairing · gantry · umbilical · throttle · thrust · propulsion
Path of moving object
- orbitalRevolving around another
- geostationaryFixed above one point
- velocityDirected rate of motion
- gravitationalRelating to mass-based attraction
perigee · apogee · inclination · revolution · rendezvous · docking · stationkeeping · Hohmann transfer
First orbital spacecraft
- Apollo 11First manned lunar landing
- Cold WarProlonged East-West standoff
- museumPublic exhibit space
- SmithsonianFederally funded museum network
exhibit · artifact · memorabilia · vintage · historic · legacy · milestone · collectible
heatshield
Protective layer against friction
- ablativeRemoving by erosion
- thermal tilesHeat-resistant protective squares
- plasmaElectrified matter state
atmosphere · deceleration · parachute · drogue chute · splashdown · touchdown · descent · retrofire · g-forces · ballistic
module
Independent functional component
- podSeed case or cetacean group
- vesselReceptacle for contents
- command moduleSpacecraft's control and living section
service module · Soyuz · Apollo · Gemini · Mercury · Vostok · Orion · hatch · porthole · docking
astronaut
Spacecraft crew member
- cosmonautRussian orbital traveler
- taikonautChinese space traveler
- commanderPerson with authority over others
pilot · flight engineer · life-support · crew quarters · NASA · ESA · training · simulator · centrifuge
rocket
Propulsion-driven spacecraft
countdown · ignition · staging · fairing · gantry · umbilical · throttle · thrust · propulsion
trajectory
Path of moving object
- orbitalRevolving around another
- geostationaryFixed above one point
- velocityDirected rate of motion
gravitational · perigee · apogee · inclination · revolution · rendezvous · docking · stationkeeping · Hohmann transfer · orbital decay
Sputnik
First orbital spacecraft
Smithsonian · exhibit · artifact · memorabilia · vintage · historic · legacy · milestone · collectible · restoration
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- spacesun, moon, stars, star, Earth
- space explorationrockets, Saturn V, satellites, mission, Falcon Heavy
- spacecraftstarships, Voyager 1, rocket ships, Voyager 2, starship
- spaceflightlaunch, astronaut, liftoff, orbit, countdown
- space fictionscience fiction, sci-fi, astronaut, rocket ship, alien
space capsuledugout canoe
Boat hewn from timber
rowboat · horse-drawn carriage · covered wagon · ox cart · rickshaw
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