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You are here: home | resources | astronautics vocabulary
Astronautics Vocabulary

There are presently 524 words in the database.



A A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

advanced communications satellite
Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR)
Advanced Thermal Environment (ATEN)
aerospace
Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC)
airlock
alignment V-guides
Alouette-1
altimetry
altitude
anechoic chamber
ANIK
Antarctic Mapping Mission (AMM)
anti-g
anti-g suit
antigravity
apogee
Aquatic Research Facility (ARF)
asteroid
astrobiology
astronaut
Astronaut Maneuvering Unit (AMU)
astronautics
Astronomical Unit (AU)
astronomy
astrophysics
Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE)
atmospheric friction

B A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

backbone of the Station
backscattering
Balloon Anisotrophy Measurement (BAM)
balloon satellite
bellows joint
black hole
blood-forming organ
body roll joint
Body Water Changes in Microgravity (BWC)
boom
booster parachute
briefing
broadcasting
bus

C A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Camera Light Pan & Tilt Assembly (CLPA)
camera, light & pan/tilt unit ORU
Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS)
Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute (CASI)
Canadian Auroral Network for the OPEN Program Unified Study (CANOPUS)
Canadian MSS Training Facility (CMTF)
Canadian Protein Crystallization Experiment (CAPE)
Canadian Remote Power Controller Modules (CRPCM)
Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
Canadian Space Exploration Workshop (CSEW)
Canadian Space Program (CSP)
Canadian Target Assembly (CTA)
capture bar
capture claw
cargo bay
celestial body
Centre for Research in Earth and Space Technology (CRESTech)
Centrifuge Accommodation Module (CAM)
checkout system
clean room
coastal zone
Cold Plasma Analyzer (CPA)
command
Commercial Float Zone Furnace (CFZF)
Communications Research Centre (CRC)
component
composite colour image
composite image
control module
cooling air
cooling liquid pump
cosmic velocity
cosmonaut
countdown
coverage area
crew
critical design review (CDR)
cross polarization
CSA automation and robotics testbed (CART)
Cupola

D A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

dark energy
dark matter
data
data acquisition
David Florida Laboratory (DFL)
debriefing
declination
degrees of freedom
de-orbiting
deployment
depressurization
device
digital computer switching unit
digital elevation model (DEM)
Docking and Stowage Module (DSM)
Docking Compartment
dosimeter
downlink
drop tower

E A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Early Ammonia Servicer
Earth observation
Earth observation (EO)
Earth Observation Application Development Program (EOADP)
Earth observation satellite (EOS)
Earth Observation System (EOS)
Earth remote sensing (ERS)
earth station
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
eccentricity
effector
elbow pitch
electronics platform
Engineering Support Centre
Enhanced Polar Outflow Probe (ePOP)
environmental life support system (ELSS)
equipment bay
escape tower
European robotic arm (ERA)
European Space Agency (ESA)
expandable diameter fastener
EXPRESS Rack Simulator (ERS)
external tank
extravehicular activity (EVA)
Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU)
Extra-Vehicular Radiation Monitors (EVARM)

F A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

fairings
Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE)
fine error sensor (FES)
Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS)
firing
flight controller
flight deck
flight engineer
Fluid Physics Experiment (FLEX)
foot restraint
force moment sensor
Fourier-transform spectrometer (FTS)
free floating

G A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

g
galaxy
gas tank
geocentric
Geoelectrodynamics and Electro-Optical Detection of Electron and Suprathermal Ion Currents (GEODESIC)
Geographic Information System (GIS)
geoid
geology
geophysics
georeferenced product
geostationary
geostationary satellite
geosynchronous
geosynchronous satellite
Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS)
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Government Related Initiatives Program (GRIP)
gravitation
gravity
greenhouse effect
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
ground crew
ground station

H A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

habitation module
hard docking
hatch
hatch release initiator
heat shield
heliocentric
heliosynchronous
Heterodyne Instrument for the Far Infrared (HIFI)
high bay
high spatial resolution
H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)
hinge
horizontal polarization
Hubble Space Telescope (HST)
hydrology

I A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

ice mapping
ignition
ignition system
image processing
imager for magnetopause-to-aurora global exploration (IMAGE)
imagery
imaging
imaging mode
imaging radar
inchworm movement
inclination (of an orbit)
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
infrared radiation
Institute of Aviation Medecine
instructor workstation
Integrated Truss Structure (ITS)
integration
interferometer
Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (INSAR)
interferometry
intergalactic
International Microgravity Laboratory (IML-1)
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
International Space Station (ISS)
International Space University (ISU)
International Standard Payload Rack (ISPR)
interplanetary
intersidereal
interstellar
intravehicular activity (IVA)
ionosphere
irradiation

J A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
jettisonable
Johnson Space Center (JSC)
joint
joint airlock

K A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

K band or Ka band
Kennedy Space Center (KSC)
Ku band

L A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

L band
Lab Cradle Assembly
laboratory module
land station
landing
Large Motion Isolation Mount (LMIM)
latch assembly
latching end effector (LEE)
latching valve
latitude
launch
launch campaign
launch pad
launch platform
launch window
launcher
launching complex
lidar
Life and Microgravity Spacelab mission (LMS)
life support system
lifetime
lift-off
light-year
liquid cooling and ventilation garment
liquid-cooled garment
logistics and sustaining engineering
long duration exposure facility (LDEF)
longitude
look
low earth orbit (LEO)
low gravity experiment

M A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

magnetic flux
magnetic storm
magnetosphere
magnitude
manned module
manned spaceflight
mass spectrometer
Materials Exposure in Low Earth Orbit (MELEO)
Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE)
MBS Common Attachment System (MCAS)
MBS Common Attachment System Latch
MBS Computer Units (MCU)
MBS ORU Base
Measurement of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT)
Measurements of Aerosol Extinction in the Stratosphere and Troposphere Retrieved by Occultation (MAESTRO)
Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS)
meridian
mesosphere
meteorite
Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS)
microgravity
Microgravity Isolation Mount (MIM)
microgravity research
microgravity science glovebox (MSG)
Microgravity Sciences Glovebox (MSG)
Microgravity Vibration Isolation Mount Base Unit (MIMBU)
Microgravity Vibration Isolation Subsystem (MVIS)
microsatellite
Microvariability and Oscillations of Stars (MOST)
microwave
microwave radiometer
mid-deck
Middle Atmosphere Nitrogen Trend Assessment (MANTRA)
milestone
Milky Way
minisatellite
mission centre
Mission Control Facility (MCF)
mission specialist
Mobile Remote Servicer Base System (MBS)
Mobile Servicing System (MSS)
Mobile Servicing System Operations Training Simulator (MOTS)
mobile station
mobile transporter (MT)
module
monitoring
mosaic
MSS Operations Complex (MOC)
MSS Robotics Operator (MRO)
multi-date image
Multilateral Coordination Board (MCB)
Multi-Media Learning Centre
multiple polarization
Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM)

N A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
National Research Council of Canada (NRC)
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
Near Infra-Red Camera (NIRCAM)
node
node

O A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

observation window
Observations of Electric-field Distributions in the Ionosphere Plasma - a Unique Strategy (OEDIPUS-C)
oil spill
on-board equipment
Optical Spectrograph and Infra-Red Imaging System (OSIRIS)
orbit
orbit lowering
orbit raising
orbit replaceable unit (ORU)
orbital control
orbital flight test
orbital manœuvre
orbital station
orbiter
orbiting
ordinary matter
ORU temporary platform (OTP)
ORU tool changeout mechanism (OTCM)
Osteoporosis Experiments in Orbit (OSTEO)
outer space

P A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

pallet
parabolic flight
patch
payload
Payload Certification, Integration and Operations Group (PCIOG)
Payload Mission Support Centre (PMSC)
Payload Operations Control Centre (POCC)
payload specialist
Payload Support Centre (PSC)
Payload Telescience Operations Centre (PTOC)
Payload/Orbital Replacement Unit Accommodation (POA)
Payload/ORU Accommodation Support Structure
perceptual-motor deficits in space (PMDIS)
permafrost
photon
pilot
pitch
pitch joint
planet
platform
polar aurora
polarization
portable life support system (PLSS)
portable life support system control unit
power control unit (PCU)
power data grapple fixture (PDGF)
powered claw
pressure gauge
pressure relief valve
pressurization
Pressurized Mating Adaptor
prime contractor
propellant
Protein Space Enhanced Crystallisation Technique (PROSPECT)

Q A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

qualification test
Queen's University Experiments in Liquid Diffusion (QUELD)
Queen's University Experiments in Liquid Diffusion (QUELD)

R A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

radar
RADARSAT User Development Program (RUDP)
RADARSAT-1
RADARSAT-2
radiation
radiocommunication
radiofrequency
range-finding
ready-to-latch indicators
real time
real-time data
redundancy
re-entry
regolith
remote manipulator arm
remote sensing
remote sensing satellite
rendezvous
rescue vehicle
Research Module
retrorocket
robotics
robotics workstation (RWS)
rocket
rocket engine
roll

S A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

safety mode
safety program
sample return
satellite
satellite broadcasting
satellite image
satellite link
satellite network
satellite-based data
ScanSAR
SCISAT-1
sea ice
self-propulsion
sensor
service module
shooting star
shoulder pitch
shoulder roll
shoulder yaw
soft docking
solar panel
solar particles
solar system
solid rocket booster
sounding balloon
sounding rocket
space communication
space debris
space environment
space laboratory
space medicine
space mission
Space Operations Support Centre (SOSC)
space probe
space program
space shuttle
space sickness
space simulation box
space simulator
space station
Space Station Processing Facility
Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS)
space suit
space system
space technology
Space Technology Development Program (STDP)
Space Transport System (STS)
space vacuum
space vehicle
Space Vision System (SVS)
spacecraft
spaceflight
Spacelab
spaceship
spatial disorientation
spatial resolution
Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM)
Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE)
splashdown
star
stowage
stratosphere
suborbital research
Suitcase Simulator (ScS)
superbolts
Suprathermal Ion Mass Spectrometer (SIMS)
swath width
synthetic aperture
synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
system

T A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

telecommunication
telemetry
teleoperation
telescope
telluric
test stand
tether
thermal blanket
Thermal Plasma Analyzer (TPA)
thermal protection
thermal shock
Thermal/Suprathermal Analyzer (TSA)
thrust
thruster
to revolve
torque
Torso Rotation Experiment (TRE)
tracking
tracking station
tracking, telecommand and telemetry (TTC)
transponder
TRek station
troposphere
Truss Segment
twilight

U A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Ultraviolet Auroral Imager (UVAI)
ultraviolet imager (UVI)
ultraviolet radiation
umbilical
Umbilical Mating Assembly (UMA)
undocking
Universal Docking Module (UDM)
universal time (UT)
Universe
upper body
US Lab Mock-up
useful life

V A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

vacuum chamber
Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB)
vernier engine
vertical polarization
very long baseline interferometry (VLBI)
Video Distribution Units (VDU)
Virtual Operations Training Environment (VOTE)
virtual reality
Visuo-motor Coordination Facility (VCF)
Visuo-motor Coordination Facility (VCF)
VLBI Space Observatory Program (VSOP)

W A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

weightlessness
Wind Imaging Interferometer (WINDII)
wrist pitch
wrist roll
wrist yaw

X A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

X radiation

Y A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

yaw

Z A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Updated: 2003/08/01 Important Notices