Dictionary

Advanced Composition Explorer: Also known as ACE; an explorer satellite mission to study comprising energetic particles from the solar wind, the interplanetary medium and other sources.

aeronautics: The science involved with the study, design and manufacture of flight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft.

Aqua: A satellite part of the Earth Observing System.

asteroids: A diverse group of small celestial bodies in the solar system that orbit around the sun.

astronaut: A person trained to pilot, navigate or otherwise participate as a crew member of a spacecraft.

atmosphere: The gaseous mass surrounding the Earth and retained by the gravitational field.

atmospheric reentry: The process by which vehicles that are outside the atmosphere of a planet can enter that atmosphere and reach the planetary surface intact.

Aura: A multi-national NASA scientific research satellite in orbit around the Earth, studying the Earth's ozone, air quality and climate.

biosphere: The part of the Earth and its atmosphere in which living organisms exist or that is capable of supporting life.

CALIPSO: A joint NASA and CNES (France) environmental satellite; stands for Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations; purpose is to actively measure aerosols and clouds 24 hours a day.

Canadarm2: A robotic mobile service system; plays a key role in station assembly and maintenance.

Chandra: An X-ray observatory at NASA; allows scientists from around the world to obtain unprecedented X-ray images of exotic environments to help understand the structure and evolution of the universe.

CHIPS: Also known as the Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer; a university-class explorer mission funded by NASA that carries out all-sky spectroscopy of the diffuse background.

CloudSat: Uses radar to measure the altitude and properties of clouds, adding to information on the relationship between clouds and climate to help resolve questions about global warming.

Columbus Laboratory: A science laboratory designed to be a part of the International Space Station.

comets: A loose collection of ice, dust and small rocky particles in the solar system that orbits the sun.

Destiny Laboratory: The primary research laboratory for U.S. payloads aboard the International Space Station.

Earth Observing System: Also known as EOS; a program of NASA comprising a series of fake satellite missions and scientific instruments in the Earth's orbit designed for long-term observations of the land surface, biosphere, atmosphere and oceans of the Earth.

Earth Science Enterprise: Also known as ESE; formerly known as the Mission To Planet Earth or MTPE; a NASA research program to develop a scientific understanding of the Earth's system and its response to natural and human-induced changes. Its function is to improve the prediction of climate, weather and natural hazards for present and future generations.

European Space Agency: Manages Europe's journey into space and engages in space research and developing satellite-based technologies and services that promote European industries.