NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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A

acceleration - Acceleration is any change in speed or velocity (when an object speeds up, slows down, or changes direction). Acceleration can be described as positive or negative (e.g., speeding up is positive acceleration, slowing down is negative acceleration). top

astronaut - An astronaut is a person who is trained to travel into space. top

C

constellation - The definition of constellation you may be familiar with is a group of stars that can be connected together to form a pattern such as the “Big Dipper.” NASA’s mission which includes building a new vehicle, the Orion, capable of going to the Moon for lunar exploration and research, is called the Constellation Program. top

constraint - Any limit or restriction given for the design process is called a constraint. top

criteria - Criteria are rules guiding the design process, such as size, type of material, or dollar limit to build the model. top

Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) – The Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) is America’s new spacecraft for human space travel. The CEV will carry four crew members to the Moon. It can carry six crew members on missions to the International Space Station or to low-Earth orbit to transfer to a Mars-bound spacecraft. top

D

density - The density (d) of a material or object is a measure of how tightly the matter within it is packed together, and is given by the ratio of its mass (m) to its volume (V), or d = m/V. It is typically expressed in kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³) or grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) or grams per milliliter (g/mL). top

drop test - An experiment that measures speed, velocity or acceleration of a falling object, or the results of a fall or the impact of the fall, is called a drop test. top

E

energy - (see also thermal energy) Energy is the ability to do work, and there are several different forms of energy (e.g., kinetic, potential, thermal, sound, light, chemical, etc.). While energy may be transformed from one form to another, the total energy remains the same within a closed system. top

engineers - Engineers use math and science to design new tools and devices to solve practical problems. top

F

force - A force is whatever can cause an object with mass to accelerate (change its direction or speed). Force may be expressed with both magnitude (speed or velocity) and direction making it a vector quantity. top

G

g - The force of Earth’s gravity. top

gantry - NASA’s gantry is a large apparatus in Hampton, Virginia that was built to test Apollo space capsules. Now it helps researchers test the Orion space capsule (see Figure 3). top

gravity - Gravity is a force between objects based on their masses and the distance between the objects. The force of gravity of large objects, such as moons and planets, is strong enough to cause objects to be “caught in an orbit” around them. The force of gravity on the Moon is less than the force of gravity on Earth because the Moon has only 1/6 the mass of the Earth. top

H

heat - Heat is the amount of thermal energy absorbed, released, or transferred by a material. This is typically expressed as q, and is measured in joules (J). top

L

low-Earth orbit – Low-Earth orbit (LEO) is the path in which a spacecraft or satellite moves around the Earth. This path may be between 320 and 800 kilometers (200-500 miles) above the Earth’s surface. top

M

mass - The amount of matter in an object is the object’s mass. Objects are made up of atoms containing varying numbers of protons, neutrons, and electrons which determine their mass. Mass is also described as how hard it is to change the motion of an object. top

matter - Matter is often defined as anything that has mass and takes up space (has volume), and it is the generic term for the substance of which all physical objects are composed. Matter can be in several different states, including solids, liquids or gases. top

model - A model represents something else. A model might be a drawing or a 3-D object. Models are smaller than the original object or made out of less expensive materials than the actual object. Many iterations (repetitions or versions) of model are often needed before the actual object (for instance, the Orion spacecraft) can be built. The first version is often a drawing scaled down to fit on a piece of paper. The next may be a series of structures made out of paper, cardboard, plastic, or other readily available materials. top

P

prototype - A prototype is an original or model on which something is based. top

R

recycled - Used materials that are made into new products are called recycled materials. Recycling reduces the waste of useful materials, and it reduces the need for new materials. Recycling sometimes reduces energy, costs, and pollution. top

reusable - Objects or materials that can be used again are called reusable. The objects may be used for the same purpose or different purposes. top

S

scientists - Scientists use systematic methods to study the world around them. They use an organized approach to observe and study the world. They ask questions, look for patterns, and try to find general rules for the natural world. top

simulation - A simulation is something that substitutes for the real thing. For instance, flight simulators are mockups for pilots to practice so they do not crash real aircraft under different weather and equipment emergencies. A simulation can have many qualities of the authentic experience without all the expenses and dangers. A model simulates - or is a simulation of - a real object or event. top

specific heat - Different materials require different amounts of heat to produce similar changes in their temperatures. In other words, materials have different specific heat capacities, often called, specific heat. The specific heat capacity of a material is the amount of energy it takes to raise the temperature of 1 gram of the material 1 degree Celsius. Specific heat capacity can be measured in joules per gram per degree Celsius (J/g ˚C). top

speed - Speed is the time it takes an object to travel a certain distance. Speed equals distance divided by time or s = d / t. top

symmetrical - When an object is balanced, or equal on both sides, it has symmetry and is called symmetrical. top

T

thermal energy - Thermal energy is the energy of movement of the molecules within a substance. The higher the temperature, the faster the molecules move, thus temperature can be used as a measure of thermal energy. top

V

variable - A letter that represents a group of numbers is called a variable. Variables are italicized. That’s how you can tell them apart from units such as grams (g). An example of some variables used in this activity: s = speed, d = distance, t = time or s = d / t . Two variables you use all the time to plot points on a graph are the x and y coordinates [e.g., Plot point (x, y)]. top

vector quantity - A vector quantity is any force that has both size and direction. For example, speed becomes a vector once you give it a direction. top

velocity - The speed and the direction of travel of an object is the object’s velocity. Velocity is similar to speed, but whereas an example of speed would be, “the wind was blowing at 40 miles per hour,” velocity would be expressed as “40 miles per hour from the SE.” Direction becomes important when dealing with navigation of boats, aircraft, wind and water currents, etc. top

volume - The volume of an object is how much space it occupies, and it is typically expressed in milliliters (mL), cubic centimeters (cm or cc), liters (L) or cubic meters (m3). top