space vehicle
Rocket-propelled vessel
A space vehicle is any craft designed for travel or operation beyond Earth's atmosphere—rockets, satellites, space shuttles, and probes all qualify.
The term is more technical than spaceship or spacecraft, appearing often in engineering and policy contexts: The space vehicle achieved orbit after a successful launch.
Short-distance transport
- capsuleEnclosed dose container
- moduleIndependent functional component
- landerSpacecraft for surface arrival
- roverDrifter or space explorer
probe · satellite · station · orbiter · spaceplane · command module · service module · lunar module
Propulsion-driven spacecraft
- thrusterEngine providing forward force
- boosterSomething that increases strength
- engineMachine producing motion
- propellantSubstance creating thrust
solid fuel · liquid oxygen · hydrogen fuel · solar sail · chemical rocket · retrorocket · attitude control · main engine
NASA interstellar mission name
- PioneerAudio-visual equipment manufacturer
- CassiniSaturn mission namesake
- GalileoRenaissance astronomer from Italy
- CuriosityMars surface laboratory
Perseverance · Apollo · Soyuz · Orion · Starship · New Horizons · Juno · Mars rover
Set into motion
- liftoffMoment of ascent
- countdownBackward enumeration to zero
- ignitionStarting combustion process
- trajectoryPath of moving object
payload · staging · launch window · launchpad · mission control · telemetry · flight path · ascent
Aircraft electronic equipment
- navigationDetermining position and course
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
- gyroscopeSpinning disc measuring orientation
- life supportSystems maintaining vital functions
heat shield · thermal protection · docking port · airlock · solar panel · antenna · communications · computer
Curved celestial path
- geostationaryFixed above one point
- ellipticalOval-shaped or indirect
- perigeeOrbit's closest point
- apogeeHighest orbital point
inclination · Hohmann transfer · orbital decay · stationkeeping · deorbit · circularization · gravity assist · flyby
shuttle
Short-distance transport
- capsuleEnclosed dose container
- moduleIndependent functional component
- landerSpacecraft for surface arrival
rover · probe · satellite · station · orbiter · spaceplane · command module · service module · lunar module · cargo vessel
rocket
Propulsion-driven spacecraft
- thrusterEngine providing forward force
- boosterSomething that increases strength
- engineMachine producing motion
propellant · solid fuel · liquid oxygen · hydrogen fuel · solar sail · chemical rocket · retrorocket · attitude control · main engine · auxiliary power
Voyager
NASA interstellar mission name
- PioneerAudio-visual equipment manufacturer
- CassiniSaturn mission namesake
- GalileoRenaissance astronomer from Italy
Curiosity · Perseverance · Apollo · Soyuz · Orion · Starship · New Horizons · Juno · Mars rover · lunar lander
launch
Set into motion
trajectory · payload · staging · launch window · launchpad · mission control · telemetry · flight path · ascent · reentry
avionics
Aircraft electronic equipment
- navigationDetermining position and course
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
- gyroscopeSpinning disc measuring orientation
life support · heat shield · thermal protection · docking port · airlock · solar panel · antenna · communications · computer · sensor
orbit
Curved celestial path
- geostationaryFixed above one point
- ellipticalOval-shaped or indirect
- perigeeOrbit's closest point
apogee · inclination · Hohmann transfer · orbital decay · stationkeeping · deorbit · circularization · gravity assist · flyby · aerobraking
space vehiclesubmarine
Underwater naval craft
car · boat · ship · automobile · airplane
space vehiclehorse and buggy
Animal-drawn wheeled vehicle
ox cart · covered wagon · chariot · horse-drawn carriage · dugout canoe
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