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Space shuttle

A reusable launch and orbital spacecraft developed by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for manned spaceflight missions.

Contributors in Space shuttle

Space shuttle

roll

Aerospace; Space shuttle

The rotational movement of a vehicle about a longitudinal (X) axis.

round-trip time

Aerospace; Space shuttle

The elapsed time it takes for light, or a radio signal, to travel from Earth, be received and immediately transmitted or reflected, and return to the starting point.

scan platform

Aerospace; Space shuttle

An articulated, powered appendage to the spacecraft bus which points in commanded directions, allowing optical observations to be taken independently of the spacecraft's attitude.

sequencer

Aerospace; Space shuttle

A mechanical or electrical device which may be set to initiate a series of events and to make events follow a sequence.

service module

Aerospace; Space shuttle

That part of a spacecraft which usually carries a maneuvering engine, thrusters, electrical supply, oxygen and other consumables external to the descent module. Discarded prior to reentry.

solar cell

Aerospace; Space shuttle

A cell that converts sunlight into electrical energy. The light falling on certain substances (e.g. a silicon cell) causes an electric current to flow.

solar panel

Aerospace; Space shuttle

An array of light-sensitive cells attached to a spacecraft and used to generate electrical power for the vehicle in space. Also called solar array.

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