Rocket Science

Heliosphere

A bubble around the sun created by the outward flow of the solar wind from the sun and the opposing inward flow of the interstellar wind. Voyager 1, which is traveling up away from the plane of the planets, left this bubble (entered interstellar space) on Aug. 25, 2012.

Gravity

A natural phenomenon by which all things with mass are brought toward, or gravitate toward, one another.

Thrust

A reaction force described quantitatively by Isaac Newton's second and third laws. When a system expels or accelerates mass in one direction, the accelerated mass will cause a force of equal magnitude but opposite direction on that system. In rocketry, this force is generated by the propulsion system of the rocket.

25,020 mph

A rocket must achieve a speed greater than _________ to escape earth's gravitational orbit.

October 4, 1957

Date of the first Earth-orbiting artificial satellite, called Sputnik, launched by the Soviet Union.

Falcon 9

Designed by SpaceX, this rocket is the first orbital class rocket capable of reflight. It's simple two-stage configuration minimizes the number of separation events -- and with nine first-stage engines, it can safely complete its mission even in the event of an engine shutdown.

MAVEN

Entering Mars' orbit on September 22, 2014, this orbiting probe provided first-of-its-kind measurements to address key questions about Mars' climate and habitability and improve understanding of dynamic processes in the upper Martian atmosphere and ionosphere.

leap

Finish Neil Armstrong's statement: "That's one small step for man, one giant ___________ for mankind."

Six

How many moon landing missions were there?

Orbital Sciences

In February 2018, this company completed its first cargo run to the International Space Station, turning what had been something only SpaceX could do into a legitimate industry.

Explorer I

Launched by the U.S. Army on January 31, 1958, this rocket was America's first orbital satellite.

Phoenix

Launched on Aug 4, 2007, this mission successfully landed on the north polar region of Mars on May 25, 2008. Its mission was to dig up and analyze icy soil.

Voyager 2

Launched on August 20, 1977, this probe was one of two spacecraft designed to explore our solar system and beyond.

Mariner 9

Launched on May 30, 1971, this was the first Mars mission, placing a satellite in Mars' orbit.

Curiosity

Launched on November 26, 2011 and landed on mars on August 6, 2012, this next generation rover was built on the successes of Spirit and Opportunity.

Houston, TX

Location of NASA Mission Control Center

Heat Shield

Made of composite tiles combining refractory ceramic and carbon, these tiles resist the intense heat generated by the friction of the spaceship striking the atmosphere at high speeds during re-entry.

liquid hydrogen

Most liquid-fuel heavy-launch rockets use a mixture of liquid oxygen and kerosene in their first stage booster, and liquid oxygen and ____________ ___________ in their second/third stage booster(s).

Voyager 1

On September 5, this spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral aboard a Titan-Centaur rocket. It was designed to explore our solar system and beyond.

Dr. Wernher von Braun

One of the leading figures in the development of pre-war Germany's rocket program and the development of the V2 missile, this man became a leading proponent of America's space program.

Gunpowder

Originally invented by the Chinese, Roger Bacon is known for bringing this new substance to Europe. He improved its formulas and increased the mixture's power, forever transforming the way warfare would be conducted.

Celestial

Positioned in or relating to the sky, or outer space as observed in astronomy.

Saturn V

Rocket that carried Apollo Astronauts to moon.

Cosmonaut

Russian term for Astronaut.

Termination Shock

The boundary marking one of the outer limits of the Sun's influence, and is one boundary of the Solar System.

Orbit

The curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star, planet, or moon, especially a periodic elliptical revolution.

Kinetic Energy

The energy that an object possesses due to its motion or the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its stated velocity. Having gained this energy during its acceleration, the body maintains it unless its speed changes.

Apollo 15

The first Apollo mission to utilize the rover known as the "Moon Buggy."

Yuri Gagarin

The first human in space, leaving Earth on April 12, 1961, aboard a Vostok-K rocket for a multi-orbit flight.

Altitude

The height of an object or point in relation to sea level or ground level.

vertex

The highest or lowest point of a parabola is known as the ________.

Trajectory

The path followed by a projectile flying or an object moving under the action of given forces.

Aerospace Engineering

The primary field of engineering concerned with the development of aircraft and spacecraft.

1232

The year of the first recorded use of a true rocket, used by the Chinese to barrage waves of Mongol invaders.

Voyager 1 & 2

These spacecrafts carry a greeting to any form of life, should that be encountered. The message is carried by a phonograph record - -a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk containing sounds and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth.

Apollo 17

This Apollo mission was America's last manned moon landing on December 11, 1972.

Apollo 11

This Apollo mission was the first to land on the moon.

Archytas

This Greek philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer who live from 428 to 347 B.C., was said to have constructed and flown a small bird-shaped device that was propelled by a jet of steam or compressed air.

Leonardo da Vinci

This Renaissance man's favorite area of research and design was in the area of aviation. One of his most famous inventions was the flying machine, also known as the "ornithopter."

SpaceX

This company designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 to revolutionize space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets.

Viking 1

This mission found a place in history when it became the first to land a spacecraft safely on the surface of another planet.

Space Shuttle

This re-usable launch and recovery platform saw it's first launch in 1981 and the last of its 135 missions conclude in 2011.

Lithium Hydroxide

Used in spaceflight to filter out CO2 from the spacecraft's breathable air supply.

7:56 p.m. Pacific Time, July 20, 1969

When American astronaut Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon.