- Acceleration
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An increase in velocity.
- Aerodynamics
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The ability of a moving object to resist drag or friction caused by air.
- Altitude
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The distance above the Earth's surface.
- Apogee
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The point in space when the moon or an artificial satellite is furthest from Earth.
- Booster Rockets
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Propulsion engines used to launch a rocket.
- Center of Gravity
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The balance point of an object.
- Delay
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The time between a rockets apogee and the deployment of the recovery system.
- Drag
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Friction caused by the movement of air over an object.
- Ejection
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The release of the recovery system.
- Escape Velocity
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(17,600 MPH) The speed needed to break the Earth's gravitational pull.
- Gravity
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The downward pull exerted by a planet or star upon an object of less mass.
- Lift
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The force which allows an object to gain altitude.
- Mass
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The amount of matter in an object.
- NASA
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
- Orbit
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A satellites path around a planet or star.
- Payload
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Object carried for the mission but NOT part of the rocket operation.
- Perigee
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The point in space when a moon or artificial safellite is closest to Earth.
- Propellant
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A mixture of fuel and oxygen.
- Revolution
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The time is takes for a moon to orbit a planet or a planet to orbit the sun.
- Rotation
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The time it takes for a planet or star to spin one complete time.
- Satellite
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Any object (natural or artificial) in orbit around another object.
- Speed of Light
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(186,000 miles per second) The velocity that light travels.
- Stability
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The ability for a rocket to fly in the desired path and under control.
- Thrust
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The force that propels an object forward.