Knowra Spaceflight Spaceflight Spaceflight is the travel or operation of vehicles beyond Earth’s atmosphere, including crewed missions and uncrewed spacecraft. It uses rocket propulsion to reach and maneuver through space.
Rocket engine : A propulsion device that produces thrust by expelling high-speed exhaust. Rocket engines provide the thrust needed to launch vehicles and maneuver spacecraft.
Earth's atmosphere : The layer of gases surrounding Earth, becoming progressively thinner with altitude. Its thinning boundary distinguishes atmospheric flight from spaceflight in practical definitions.
Communications satellite : An artificial satellite that relays signals between distant locations on Earth or in space. Spaceflight places these satellites in orbits that support global communications.
Sputnik 1 : The first artificial Earth satellite, launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. Its launch began the era of demonstrated orbital spaceflight.
Atmospheric flight : The movement of aircraft through a planetary atmosphere using aerodynamic lift and propulsion. It relies on the atmosphere for lift, unlike spaceflight beyond its useful density.
Orbital mechanics : The study of how gravity governs the motion of objects in space. Orbital mechanics determines trajectories, rendezvous, and the timing of spaceflight maneuvers.
Gravity : The attractive interaction between masses that shapes motion on astronomical scales. Gravity governs launch requirements, orbits, and journeys between celestial bodies.
Earth observation satellite : An artificial satellite that gathers information about Earth's surface, atmosphere, or oceans. Orbital platforms repeatedly survey the planet for science and practical services.
Vostok 1 : The 1961 Soviet mission that carried Yuri Gagarin into space as the first human spaceflight. It demonstrated that a person could survive an orbital mission.
Suborbital spaceflight : A flight that reaches space but follows a trajectory returning without completing an orbit. It reaches space without the sustained sideways velocity required for orbit.
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