 |
| air
pressure |
the
weight of a column of air on a unit surface area |
| ALARA |
as
low as reasonably achievable, guidelines for people who work
with radiation |
| alpha
particle |
particles
emitted during radioactive decay: the nucleus of a helium atom |
| altitude
|
distance
above the earth |
| alveolar
membrane |
the
lining of any one of millions of air sacks in the lung where
the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place during
respiration |
| angstrom
(Å): |
a
unit of length equal to 10 to the minus 10th meters. (see “X-rays) |
| anoxia
|
a
deficiency of oxygen, especially hypoxia |
| argon |
the
element with atomic number 18: the most common inert gas in
the earth’s atmosphere |
| atmosphere |
the
layer of gases surrounding a planet |
|
Armstrong, Neil Alden |
first
Astronaut to land on the moon |
| astronaut |
title
used to describe NASA personnel selected for space exploration |
| astronomy |
the
study of the universe and its contents beyond the earth’s
atmosphere |
| astrophysicist
|
scientists
who study the physical theories of astronomical objects and
phenomena |
| atmosphere |
the
layer of gases around a planet |
| atmospheric
pressure |
the
weight of a column of atmospheric gases on a unit surface area |
| atomic
mass unit |
the
unit in which masses of atoms are measured: 1 a.m.u = 1/12 of
the atom of isotope carbon-12 |
| atomic
number |
refers
to the number of protons in an atoms nucleus |
| aurora
australis |
see
“Southern Lights” |
| aurora
borealis |
see
“Northern Lights” |
| barometer |
instrument
that measures the weight of the atmosphere |
| beta
particle |
old
name for an electron, sometimes extended to include positrons |
| Bohr,
Neils |
(1885-1962)
Danish physicist awarded Nobel Prize for his theoretical model
of the atom |
| bone
marrow |
in
vertebrates, the soft material in the center of the bones that
produces blood cells |
| Brookhaven
National Laboratory |
American
particle accelerator center on Long Island, NY: built in 1953 |
| capillaries |
the
smallest blood vessel in animals |
| carbon
dioxide |
a
colorless gas: produced by respiration and taken up in photosynthesis:
CO2 |
| carbon
monoxide |
a
colorless gas: toxic, replaces oxygen in haemoglobin in the
blood: CO |
| CAT-scan |
an
advanced method of X-ray imaging: used for medical diagnosis |
| cell
nucleus |
a
central, dense body within a cell surrounded by a nuclear membrane
or envelope: found in all human cells except blood cells: contains
human DNA: controls cell functions |
| cell |
the
smallest mass of self-contained living matter of an animal or
plant |
| cellular
division |
the
process that results in the division of a living cell |
| Celsius
|
a
temperature scale in which the freezing point of water is defined
as 0? |
| chemistry |
the
science of the elements and the ways in which they interact
with one another |
| choronagraph |
a
telescope used to photograph the chromosphere and corona |
| chromosomes |
a
structure in the cell nucleus that carries the genetic material
DNA as well as proteins |
| chromosphere |
layer
of sun lying just above the photosphere: seen only during eclipse:
heat of chromosphere is hotter than photosphere, an unexplained
phenomena |
| compass |
a
device that responds to the earth’s magnetic field: used
to determine geographical direction and position |
| condensation |
a
change from vapor (gaseous state) to liquid: opposite of evaporation |
| conjunctivitis |
inflammation
of the outer membrane (conjuctiva) of the eye(s): highly contagious |
| convection |
the
heating, rising, cooling, sinking of matter in the states of
liquid, gas, or plasma |
| convection
zone |
layer
of sun lying just below the photosphere: where plasma heats,
rises, cools, sinks |
| Copernicus,
Nicholas |
(1473-1543)
Polish churchman and astronomer who proposed that the planets
revolved around a fixed sun |
| core |
center
of sun |
| corona |
outermost
region of the solar atmosphere: inner corona and outer corona:
above the chromosphere |
| coronal
holes |
dark
regions in the sun’s corona detected by X-ray photography:
an open solar magnetic field that allows hot material to escape |
| coronal
mass ejection |
an
ejection into interplanetary space of plasma and magnetic fields
|
| Democritus |
(470-370
BC) Greek philosopher best known for his development of the
atomic theory |
| Destiny |
U.S.
Laboratory module of International Space Station (Space Station
Alpha) |
| digital
system |
a
technological system based upon computer and software technology |
| DNA |
deoxyribonucleic
acid: a complex, large molecule that contains all of the information
for building and controlling a living organism |
| Dose |
an
amount of…: a quantity of… |
| E=mc2 |
Einstein’s
famous formula which equates energy with mass |
| Eagle |
first
U.S. space craft to be flown to and landed on moon by Commander
N.Armstrong |
| earth’s
magnetic field |
magnetic
field that surrounds the earth and is most intense at the North
and South magnetic poles |
| Einstein,
Albert |
(1879-1955)
German born physicist and Nobel Prize recipient: noted for his
development of two theories of relativity and contributions
to quantum theory |
| electric
field |
a
region in which a force would be exerted on an electric charge |
| electrical
energy |
energy
resulting from the position of an electric charge in an electric
field |
| electrical
power grid |
the
high-power lines connected to an electrical power plant |
| electricity |
the
nature and effects of moving or stationary electric charges,
ie. electrons, plasma, etc. |
| electromagnetic
emissions |
the
propagation of vibrating electric and magnetic fields in the
form of waves |
| electromagnetic
energy |
the
energy transmitted by the propagation of electric and magnetic
fields in the form of waves |
| electron |
an
elementary particle of negative (electrical) charge |
| electron
cloud |
an
early description of the configuration of electrons around the
nucleus of an atom |
| electron
orbit |
an
early description of the configuration of electrons around the
nucleus of an atom: the Bohr model of the atom |
| electron
shell |
a
group of electrons around the nucleus of an atom that have the
same energy level, spin, ie. quantum number |
| energy |
a
property of a system: its ability to do work: some forms of
energy are electrical, chemical, mechanical, nuclear: a system
can be a machine or an atom or a living thing |
| engineer |
a
person who is trained in or follows as a profession a branch
of engineering |
| engineering |
the
science of laying out, constructing, or managing as an engineer |
| evaporation |
the
process by which a liquid turns into a gas at a temperature
below the boiling point of the liquid |
| extra-vehicular
activity (EVA) |
activity
conducted outside of the space station |
| fiber-optic
cable |
cable
made of glass fibers used for high-speed transmission of information
by light |
| fission |
the
process by which an atom splits into two or more parts, releasing
energy and free neutrons |
| force |
four
forces have been identified in nature, gravity and electromagnetism
(universal forces), the weak force and the strong force (sub-atomic
forces) |
| Freon
|
man-made
gas used as refrigerant and as propellants for aerosols |
| Frequency |
the
number of oscillations in a wave in a unit period of time, usually
1 second |
| fusion |
the
process whereby nuclei fuse together to make one heavier nucleus
and to release energy |
| Galileo,
Galilei |
(1564-1642)
Italian physicist, astronomer, and mathematician: one of first
to use telescope |
| gamma
rays |
streams
of gamma radiation: highest frequency waves on electromagnetic
spectrum (length 10-14 to 10-10 meter, photons 10 MeV to 10
KeV) |
| gas |
the
state (phase) of matter in which a substance will expand to
fill its container |
| gastrointestinal
tract |
the
part of the digestive system consisting of stomach and intestines |
| gene
|
the
basic unit of inheritance encoded by a specific length of DNA
controlling one particular function or characteristic, for example
hair color |
| geodesic
dome |
a
structure noted for its strength achieved through the linking
of triangular units: invented by Buckminster Fuller |
| geomagnetic
storm |
large-scale
disturbance of earth’s magnetosphere caused by the arrival
of significant amounts of solar plasma |
| gluons
|
the
carriers of the force that holds quarks together |
| GOES
8 |
satellite
that takes visible, infrared, and water vapor satellite pictures
and movies of North America and the western hemisphere |
| granules |
a
cellular pattern on the sun’s surface that is visible
on high definition photographs of the sun’s photosphere |
| haemoglobin |
a
pigment found in red blood cells and used by the body to transport
oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues |
| helium |
the
element with the atomic number 2 (He) |
| high-frequency
communications |
communications
that uses high-frequency electromagnetic radiation: light and
infrared energies |
| hydrocarbon
gas |
gas
consisting of molecules made of hydrogen and carbon atoms only |
| hydrogen
ions |
hydrogen
atom without an electron (a proton, solar plasma) or with two
or more electrons (hydrogen isotope) |
| hyperventilation |
excessive
breathing due to anxiety or physical distress |
| hypoxia |
condition
produced by a lack of oxygen in the body |
| insulator |
a
substance that does not readily conduct an electrical charge |
| interference |
the
way in which two (or more) sets of waves (electromagnetic, water)
interact with each other to produce a pattern in which there
are regions of high or low intensity |
| International
Space Station (ISS) |
the
space station managed by NASA and a team of 16 foreign nations |
| internet
node |
a
technological link in the Internet that receives and passes
on messages |
| ion |
a
charged particle consisting of an atom or group of atoms that
has either lost or gained electrons |
| ionization |
the
process of producing ions |
| ionize |
to
strip or add an extra electron to an atom |
| ionizing
radiation |
radiation
such that the individual particle (photon) has sufficient energy
to ionize substances |
| ionosphere |
region
in the earth’s atmosphere that extends from an altitude
of about 60 to 500 kilometers: ISS orbits through ionosphere |
| isotope |
two
or more species of the same element |
| jet
stream |
narrow
belt of high speed wind in a planet’s atmosphere |
| Kelvin |
-273.16?
Celsius: 0? Kelvin is defined as absolute 0 (see “Celsius”) |
| krypton |
the
element with atomic number 36: normally found in a gaseous state
(Kr) |
| latitude
|
measured
in degrees north or south of the earth’s equator |
| Leucippus |
(about
500 – 450 BC) Greek philosopher who was teacher of Democritus |
| light |
(visible
radiation) a form of electromagnetic radiation able to be detected
by the human eye: wavelength 400nm (red) – 700 nm (violet)
|
| liquid |
the
state (phase) of matter in which a material is able to flow
freely and take up the shape of its container |
| magnet |
any
object that is surrounded by a magnetic field and attracts or
repels other magnets |
| magnetic
field |
a
region in which a magnetic force can be observed: surrounds
a magnet or wire conducting electricity: magnetic fields around
planetary objects can be 1012 times stronger than the magnetic
field around the earth |
| magnetic
field lines |
see
magnetic flux |
| magnetic
flux |
the
strength of a magnetic field through an area based upon the
idea of the number of lines of force passing through the area |
| magnetic
pole |
the
region of a magnetic field where the forces appear strongest |
| magnetite |
a
mineral form of iron oxide (Fe3O4) |
| mass |
a
measure of the quantity of matter in an object: two ways to
define—an object’s gravitational pull, an object’s
resistance to being pushed: see “atomic mass unit” |
| matter
|
formerly
regarded as synonomous with substance |
| mercury |
the
element with atomic number 80: a metal (Hg) |
| methane |
a
colorless, odorless gas: extremely flammable when mixed with
air (CH4) |
| MeV |
one
one-thousandth of an electron volt: used to measure a very small
electrical charge |
| microwatt |
one
one-thousandth of one one-thousandth of a watt |
| microwaves |
a
form of electromagnetic radiation: ranging in wavelengths from
1 mm (infrared) to 120 mm (radio waves) |
| millirem |
one
one-thousandth of a rem |
| mission
patch |
a
colorful emblem created to celibrate a space mission or project |
| module
|
a
segment of the International Space Station |
| molecule |
the
smallest part of a chemical compound that can exist without
its losing its chemical identity |
| moon
|
earth’s
only natural satellite |
| mutation |
an
alteration of a gene caused by the alteration of the genetic
material (DNA): usually occurs when DNA is replicated and mistakes
are made |
| National
Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements |
a
leading organization in the study of radiation and the establishment
of guidelines for working with, handling, and using radiation |
| National
Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) |
US
Government organization dedicated to studying a wide range of
atmospheric and atomic phenomena |
| navigation
|
the
process of finding ones position and ones desired direction
of travel |
| negative
charge |
one
of two types of basic property of some elementary particles
of matter: the charge on a body arises from an excess or deficit
of negative electrons with respect to positive protons |
| neon |
element
with atomic number 10: an inert gas that occurs in a small amount
in air (Ne) |
| nerve
cells |
a
major cell type of the nervous system |
| network |
objects,
human or technological, that are linked together to perform
a task or set of tasks and/or to achieve a goal |
| neutron |
an
elementary particle with zero charge: found in all nuclei except
Hydrogen |
| nitrogen |
the
element with atomic number 7: a gas: makes up 78% of the air:
(H) |
| non-ionizing
|
radiation
such that the individual particle (photon) has insufficient
energy to ionize substances |
| Northern
Lights |
atmospheric
phenomena marked by dancing patterns of light occurring at high
altitudes above the earth’s northern latitudes |
| nuclear
physics |
the
branch of physics concerned with nuclear structure, properties,
and reactions and their application (nuclear power, using radioisotopes) |
| nuclear
scientist |
a
scientist who specializes in the study of the atom and in nuclear
energies |
| nucleotide |
the
constituent unit of the nucleic acids DNA and RNA which consist
of an organic base, a sugar, and a phosphate group |
| orbit
|
path
of a celestial body in a gravitational field generated by other
bodies |
| outer
corona |
that
part of the sun’s corona that reaches far out into the
solar system |
| oxygen
|
the
element with atomic number 8: makes up about 21% of the air:
(O) |
| ozone |
a
colorless gas with a distinctive odor: produced in earth’s
upper atmosphere (O3) |
| ozone
layer |
a
layer of the earth’s atmosphere found at an altitude of
15 to 40 kilometers |
| P6
Solar Array |
the
name used to designate a solar module on the International Space
Station |
| partial
pressure (pp) |
in
a mixture of gases, that part of overall pressure that can be
attributed to one specified gas: the pressure that the gas would
exert if it were alone |
| philosopher
|
a
person who seeks wisdom or enlightenment |
| photon |
wave-particle
duality: the concept that some entities show both wave and particle
(photon) properties: explored in both electromagnetic radiation
(Einstein) and particle waves (deBroglie) |
| photosphere |
that
layer of the sun that can be seen by the naked eye: its brightness
obscures all other phenomena in the outer layers of the sun |
| photovoltaic
arrays |
on
the space station, the total collection of solar cells |
| physiological
effects |
the
functional processes and activities that occur within living
organisms as a result of exposure to the environment |
| Pierce,
John R. |
a
scientist at AT&T’s Bell Laboratories that envisioned
the future of satellite telecommunications |
| Planck,
Max |
(1858-1947)
German physicist and pioneer in the field of quantum physics
and the study of electromagnetic radiation: created the term
“quanta” |
| plasma |
a
mixture of free electrons and ions or atomic nuclei: occur in
the sun: a blood bi-product |
| platelet |
in
vertebrates, a small cell-like fragment that buds from larger
cells in the bone marrow and is involved in blood clotting following
injury |
| polar
region |
a
region of the earth located at either the North Pole or the
South Pole |
| positive
charge |
one
of two types of basic property of some elementary particles
of matter: the charge on a body arises from an excess or deficit
of negative electrons with respect to positive protons |
| propagation |
the
sending forth: the creation |
| proton |
an
elementary particle with a positive charge |
| quarks
|
an
elementary particle: form a level of matter one level below
neutrons |
| rad |
a
unit of absorbed dose of ionizing radiation |
| radiation |
any
particles or waves emitted by a source |
| radiation
shielding |
materials
used to protect human beings from exposure to damaging radiation |
| radiative
zone |
the
layer of the sun that surrounds and effectively contains the
sun’s core |
| radio
waves |
a
form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths greater than
a few millimeters: main application is to carry information |
|
radioactive |
describing
an element or nuclide that exhibits natural radioactivity |
| radioactivity |
spontaneous
disintegration of certain unstable nuclides with a mission of
radiation: various types include alpha, beta, gamma decay, and
fission |
| rem |
(radiation
equivalent man) a former unit of dose equivalent of ionizing
radiation |
| reproductive
organs |
the
system of organs and tubes used in sexual reproduction |
| respiration |
the
human body’s process of releasing and taking in air |
| Rutherford,
Ernest |
(1871-1937)
New Zealand born British physicist who pioneered in the study
of the atom and radioactivity |
| Satellites |
natural
or manmade objects that orbit a planetary body |
| SOHO
satellite |
Solar
and Heliospheric Observatory used to help scientists observe
and predict solar weather |
| solar
array |
another
name for the Photovoltaic Array on the space station |
| solar
cell |
small
devices that use silicon compounds to produce electricity with
light |
| solar
eruption |
an
eruption of the sun’s chromosphere: a result of violent
motion of sun’s magnetic fields |
| solar
flare |
sudden
violent explosion on the sun lasting from a few minutes to a
few hours |
| solar
magnetic field |
a
magnetic field on the sun |
| solar
maximum |
every
11 years or so, changes in the sun’s magnetic field bring
on a period of increased number of sunspots, solar flares, and
events called coronal mass ejections |
| solar
minimum |
the
opposite of solar maximum: the end of an 11 year solar cycle |
| solar
particles |
see
“plasma” |
| solar
plasma |
see
“plasma” |
| solar
proton event |
an
extreme solar flare or coronal mass ejection |
| solar
protons |
see
“plasma,” “hydrogen nuclei” |
| solar
rotation |
the
sun's period of rotation at the surface varies from approximately
25 days at the equator to 36 days at the poles: below the convective
zone, everything appears to rotate within a period of 27 days:
uneven rotational periods causes stress to solar magnetic field |
| solar
storm |
an
eruption of the sun’s chromosphere: see “solar flare” |
| solar
weather |
solar
activity that takes place over a period of time |
| solar
wind |
solar
material flowing into interplanetary space: sun’s atmosphere
expanding at supersonic speeds |
| solid
|
the
state (phase) of matter in which substance retains its shape |
| Southern
Lights |
atmospheric
phenomena marked by dancing patterns of light occurring normally
above the earth’s southern latitudes |
| Space
Environment Center (NOAA/SEC) |
U.S.
Government organization that studies solar weather and other
space phenomena |
| space
shuttle |
NASA
space vehicles used to conduct experiments in space and to transport
astronauts to the International Space Station |
| Space
Station Alpha |
space
station adapted from International Space Station for Challenger
Learning Center’s e-Mission: Space Station Alpha educational
program |
| speed
of light |
the
speed at which electromagnetic energy travels: speed of all
forms of electromagnetic energy traveling through a vacuum is
186,000 miles per second: used commonly to define interplanetary
distances in terms of the distance light can travel in one year,
a light year |
| standard
temperature and pressure (STP) |
atmospheric
temperature of 59? Fahrenheit and pressure of 760 mmHg: used
to compare other atmospheric conditions |
| star |
a
gaseous body that emits radiation generated within itself by
thermonuclear processes |
| storage
batteries |
batteries
in which electrical energy can be stored |
| storm
front |
the
outer edges of atmospheric turbulence: hurricanes, typhoons,
etc. |
| subatomic
particle |
fundamental
component of the atom |
| sun |
the
star at the center of our solar system |
| sunspots |
a
dark region on the sun where temperatures are lower and there
is a concentration of magnetic field activity |
| technician
|
a
person highly skilled in one or more aspects of technology |
| telecommunications |
the
use of hig-frequency electromagnetic energies to transmit information |
| thermonuclear |
fission
or fusion |
| Tissue
Exposure Proportional Counter (TEPC) |
a
device used to detect radiation: report radiation in millirems |
| Torr |
one
millimeter of Hg in air pressure |
| Torricelli,
Evangelista |
(1608–47)
Italian physicist and mathematician: Galileo's secretary (1641–42)
and his successor as professor of philosophy and mathematics
at Florence |
| Toxin |
a
poison released by plants, animals, or bacteria that can cause
a disease |
| Ultraviolet |
a
form of electromagnetic energy shorter than visible light: wavelengths
range from 1 nm (nanometer) to 400 nm |
| Unity
Node |
a
connecting module on the International Space Station (Space
Station Alpha) |
| Vacuum |
a
perfect vacuum contains no matter at all |
| Van
Allen belts |
two
ring-shaped regions around the earth where there are concentrations
of high-energy electrons and protons that have been trapped
by the earth’s magnetic field |
| vapor
|
a
gas at any temperature at which it may be liquefied by pressure
alone |
| visible
light |
see
“light” |
| voltage
converters |
technology
used to regulate the flow of electricity |
| water
vapor |
see
“vapor” |
| watt |
the
standard international unit of power |
| wave |
an
oscillatory disturbance propagated through a medium or, in the
case of electromagnetic waves, through space |
| wavelength |
the
distance between the ends of one complete cycle of a wave |
| X
chromosome |
one
of two chromosomes that determines gender: X chromosomes and
Y chromosomes |
| X-rays |
(X-radiation)
a form of electromagnetic radiation: wavelengths range from
10-10 m to 10-11 meter: X-rays occur whenever high energy electrons
hit matter |
| Z1
Truss |
a
module of the International Space Station that supports the
Photovoltaic arrays (Space Station Alpha) |
| Zarya
Functional Cargo Block |
a
module of the International Space Station used for storage and
experimentation (Space Station Alpha) |
| Zvezda
Service module |
a
module of the International Space Station used for the crew’s
living quarters (Space Station Alpha) |
|
