UNIVERSEH: The European Space University

Definition:

Falcon 9 is the world's first orbital class reusable rocket, created and manufactured by SpaceX. It is a reusable, two-stage rocket capable of transporting both people and payloads into Earth's orbit and beyond. Reusability allows to reuse the most expensive parts of the rocket, which diminishes the cost of space access. The standard parameters of the rocket are:

Height - 70 m / 229.6 ft

Diameter - 3.7 m / 12 ft

Mass - 549,054 kg / 1,207,920 lb

The engine used in production of Falcon 9 is the Merlin, which uses grade kerosene (RP-1) and liquid oxygen as rocket propellants in a gas-generator power cycle. The Merlin engine was originally designed for recovery and reuse.

Falcon 9 has already been used in numerous missions or tests (Crew-1 Mission, Crew-2 Mission, Crew-3 Mission, DART Mission) and is planned to be launched in the next ones (for example Polaris Dawn in the last quarter of 2022). 

Sample Sentence(s):

"This rocket is the Falcon 9 that successfully reached orbit after 9 minutes and 38 seconds on its maiden test flight."
"It was suggested to be launched with a Falcon 9 rocket."

Translations:

• French: Falcon 9
•  German: Falcon 9
•  Polish: Falcon 9 
•  Swedish: Falcon 9

Links to Videos/Articles:

https://www.spacex.com/updates/
https://www.sciencefocus.com/science/environmentally-friendly-space-travel/
https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/falcon-9/

Image/Video/Audio:

Short Definition:

Absolute magnitude is the measurement of the brightness of celestial bodies using inverse logarithmic calculations in astronomical calculations and expressed as a mathematical value. This process involves mathematically expressing their luminosity, as a hypothesis, by placing objects at an equal distance from the observer (10 parsecs that equals to 32.6 light years).

Detailed Definition:

Absolute magnitude is also called absolute visual magnitude, which is a hypothesis that predicts the mathematical calculation of the luminosity of different celestial bodies, taking into account fixed distances, and comparing the luminosities of these objects. The mathematical formula used to calculate this luminosity is as follows;

Mv: Absolute magnitude

m: Apparent magnitude

d: Distance in 10 parsecs

Mv = m – 2.5 log [d/10]²

The apparent magnitude here, on an inverse scale, indicates how bright celestial objects appear to our eyes. Because it's an inverted scale, high numbers indicate dim objects and low numbers indicate bright objects. The brightest object known and measured on this scale has a value of -10, while the star Sirius has a luminosity of 1.4, and our sun has a luminosity of 4.8.

Etymology:

Absolute -from old Latin (absolūtus)

(Absolute – Wiktionary. (n.d.). https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/absolute)

Magnitude -from old Latin (Magnus)

(Magnitude – Wiktionary. (n.d.). https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/magnitude)

Sample Sentence(s):

‘’When comet 289P/Blanpain was discovered in 1819, its absolute magnitude was estimated as {\displaystyle M_{1}=8.5}{\displaystyle M_{1}=8.5}’’

(Wikipedia contributors. (2023, January 13). Absolute magnitude. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_magnitude)

‘’Colour–magnitude diagram, in astronomy, graph showing the relation between the absolute magnitudes (brightnesses) of stars and their colours, which are closely related to their temperatures and spectral types.’’

(The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). Colour–magnitude diagram | astronomy. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/colour-magnitude-diagram)

Translations of Terms/Concepts into Partner Languages:

French:

Magnitude absolue

German:

Absolute Helligkeit

Polish:

wielkość absolutna

Swedish:

Absolut magnitud

Turkish:

Mutlak Kadir

Links to Videos/Articles:

Absolute magnitude | astronomy. (n.d.-a). Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/absolute-magnitude

Absolute Magnitude | COSMOS. (n.d.-a). https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/a/Absolute+Magnitude

Apparent and Absolute Magnitudes. (n.d.-b). https://www.phys.ksu.edu/personal/wysin/astro/magnitudes.html

Michel van Biezen. (2014, April 9). Astronomy - Measuring Distance, Size, and Luminosity (18 of 30) Absolute Magnitude [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfsUhOPCMaM

Short Definition:

A galactic disc is a component of disc galaxies. An example are spiral galaxies and the Milky Way. The set-up of Galactic discs are a stellar component (these encompass the majority of the galaxy's stars) as well as a gaseous component (simply largely composed of cold gas and dust).

Detailed Definition:

The stellar disc of our Galaxy is divided into two components because the vertical density profile determined from star counts can be explained by a superposition of two exponentials, but not by a single exponential. (Gilmore & Reid, 1983). Further study found a thick-disc component with high-velocity dispersion, significant enrichment, and ancient age. Many writers believe that the thick disc was a relic of a turbulent period in Galactic history when the thick disc developed from accreted satellites or a thin disc heated the substance at high temperatures by one or more merger events (for a discussion, see Reddy Lambert, and Allende Prieto 2006).

This structure was first observed in external edge-on galaxies and later proposed as a distinct part of the Milky Way in a 1983 article by Gilmore and Reid. It is separate from both the thin disk and the halo. The thick disk is a structural component of approximately two-thirds of all disk galaxies, including the Milky Way. It was initially detected in external edge-on galaxies. Soon later, in the 1983 article by Gilmore and Reid, it was proposed as a galactic structure in the Milky Way, distinct from the thin disk and the halo.

Etymology

The term galaxy was derived from the Greek word galaxas (kklos) (o), which means "milky (circle)," and was called by its appearance in the sky as a milky ring of light.

Sample Sentence(s):

1.     It would take two billion years for the changes caused by a Galactic Battle to be realized.

2.     It glows on the galactic scale.

3.     The galactic disk is the Milky Way's disk component.

Translations of Terms/Concepts into Partner Languages

Polish: dysk galaktyczny

French: disque galactique

German: galaktische Scheibe

Italian: disco galattico

Swedish: galaktisk skiva

Short Definition
Galaxy cluster is astronomical structure that consist of dark matter, hot plasma and galaxies. They are the biggest bound by gravity formations that we know of.

Detailed Definition
Galaxy clusters are the biggest structures bound by gravity. They consist in 85% of dark matter that is connecting the whole structure together. We can detect dark matter only by observing how its gravitation affects objects around it and what influence it has on light passing near it. The amount of gravity produced in clusters by dark matter is a cause for effect called “gravitational lensing”. That effect bends the light magnifying it and making the cluster into a big natural telescope. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to observe some of the smaller, further galaxies.

Most of the visible matter in galaxy clusters is in form of hot plasma called the intracluster medium (ICM). Due to the high gravitational potential energy of material the shock sends gas into really high temperatures that can raise up to 10s of millions grad Celsius. That temperature later causes the emission of X-Rays.

The smallest part of galaxy clusters are galaxies, they are around 2% of a total mass of the structure. Yet the biggest known to us galaxies are formed in clusters.

Etymology
Galaxy (Noun.), originated from Ancient Greek word galaxías, that means “Milky Way”. At first used only to describe Milky Way Galaxy, later on it changed its meaning to more general.

Cluster (Noun.), derived from Proto-Germanic *klas-, *klus-, meaning “to clump, lump together”.

Sample Sentence(s)

Galaxy clusters can consist of thousands of galaxies.

Translations of Terms/Concepts into Partner Languages

French: amas de galaxies

German: Galaxienhaufen

Italian: mmasso di galassie

Polish: gromada galaktyk

Swedish: galaxhop

Links to Videos/Articles:

1. Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (n.d.), Clusters and Group of Galaxies, Retrieved from https://www.mpe.mpg.de/2040034/clusters_and_groups_of_galaxies
2. Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian (n.d.), Galaxy Clusters, Retrieved from https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/research/topic/galaxy-clusters
3. Online Etymology Dictionary (n.d.), galaxy (n.), Retrieved from https://www.etymonline.com/word/galaxy#etymonline_v_1225
4. Online Etymology Dictionary (n.d.), cluster (n.), Retrieved from https://www.etymonline.com/word/cluster#etymonline_v_13860
5. European Space Agency (2007, Juli), The Bullet Cluster, Retrieved from https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2007/07/The_Bullet_Cluster2#.ZFmq1Dq136A.link  

Short Definition:
Geosynchronous orbit is an orbit with orbital period matching Earth's full rotation time.

Detailed Definition:
Objects in geosynchronous orbit appear to trace out a path on the sky, typically a figure-8 shape every day. The exact path depends on orbit's eccentricity and inclination, but the object can be observed in the same place on the sky, same time every day. This type of orbit is useful for example for Earth observing satellites.

Etymology:
From ancient greek geo (Earth) + synchronous

Sample Sentence(s):
A satellite is placed in geosynchronous orbit above Europe.

Translations:

French:
orbite géosynchrone

German:
geosynchrone Umlaufbahn

Polish:
Orbita geosynchroniczna

Swedish:
geosynkron bana

Links to Videos/Articles:
https://www.space.com/29222-geosynchronous-orbit.html
https://gisgeography.com/geosynchronous-geostationary-orbits/

Definition:

A persistent large anticyclonic storm in the atmosphere of Jupiter, 22° south from its equator, which has been continuously observed since the 19^th century.

As of 2021, the Great Red Spot is reported to be about 10,000 miles across and 300 miles deep into the atmosphere of Jupiter. However, according to NASA observations, it is shrinking and becoming taller, and it is not yet clear whether the Great Red Spot will stabilize or disappear completely.

Translation:

• French: la Grande Tache rouge
  
• German: der Große Rote Fleck
• Polish: Wielka Czerwona Plama
• Russian: Большое Красное Пятно 
• Swedish: Stora röda fläcken

Links to Videos/Articles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDi4IdtvDVE

Short Definition:

Heavy elements are the general name for elements containing atomic numbers greater than 92. Above these, elements with atomic numbers 112 and above are called superheavy elements. The state that creates the atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of the element.

Detailed Definition:

Heavy elements, which are determined by the number of protons in the nucleus of the element (this called atomic number) are elements with atomic number greater than 92. One row above them there is superheavy elements with atomic numbers greater than 112. The first artificially produced heavy and superheavy elements were first produced during the Cyclotron experiments.

One of the most important issues about heavy elements is the concept of 'island of stability'. This concept refers to the region in the table of nucleides where elements with half-lives longer than some other super heavy elements are found. However, it should be noted that we are ona narrow time scale, from minutes to micro/nano seconds at most. The term was first coined in 1998 with the discovery of the super heavy element 114 (Flerovium).

Etymology:

Heavy – From Proto Germanic (hafiga)

Element – From Latin (elementum)

(origin and meaning of heavy. (n.d.). Etymonline. https://www.etymonline.com/word/heavy)

(element - Wiktionary. (n.d.). https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/element)

Sample Sentence(s):

‘’The heaviest element known at the end of the 19th century was uranium, with an atomic mass of approximately 240 (now known to be 238) amu.’’

(Wikipedia contributors. (2022, December 31). Superheavy element. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superheavy_element)

‘’Although the scientific community has assigned these heaviest elements to their own spots on the periodic table, there is still a lot we don’t know about them.’’

(Exploring the superheavy elements at the end of the periodic table. (n.d.). cen.acs.org.)

Translations of Terms/Concepts into Partner Languages:

French:

Élément lourd

German:

Schweres element

Polish:

Ciężki pierwiastek

Swedish:

Tungt element

Turkish:

Ağır Element

Links to Videos/Articles:

Cookie Absent. (n.d.). https://physicstoday.scitation.org/action/cookieAbsent

Discovery of Elements 113 and 115. (n.d.). https://pls.llnl.gov/research-and-development/nuclear-science/project-highlights/livermorium/elements-113-and-115

Seeker. (2019, November 10). This Superheavy Atom Factory Is Pushing the Limits of the Periodic Table [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg0AN8bZ4us

Wikipedia contributors. (2022, December 31). Superheavy element. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superheavy_element

Short Definition
Hubble Space Telescope is a large telescope used to observe distant space objects. Hubble can observe almost complete light spectrum from the ultraviolet to near infrared light allowing extensive research of space. Its research includes but is not limited to beginning of the Universe, black holes, exoplanets and nebulas.

Detailed Definition
Hubble is a Cassegrain mirror telescope. It is built with two hyperbolically curved mirrors that are positioned facing each other. The main mirror that accumulates the light from celestial bodies is curved inwardly and leads light to the secondary smaller mirror. Second mirror is curved outwardly and diffuses the light bouncing it back to the first mirror. At the main mirror the light is finally collected together and lead to the focal point where optical instruments can gather the data.

Hubble was launched in 1990 and has been visited multiple times between 1993 and 2009 by astronauts. Those missions included various repairs like correcting mistakes that were noticed first after we started collecting the data and adding new science instruments to make information analysis easier.

Hubble studies helped us understand our Universe better being the first telescope located outside of Earth's atmosphere that prevented us from research of ultraviolet light that is only visible in space. One of the most important discoveries that Hubble made include:
-More accurate estimate on age of the Universe,
-Determining the rate with which the Universe is expanding,
-Discovering that almost every big Galaxy has a black hole at its center.

Etymology
Hubble Space Telescope is named after Edwin Powell Hubble, who made one of the most important discoveries in the field of astronomy in the 20th century.

Sample Sentence(s):

Hubble Space Telescope helped researchers make new discoveries.

Astronomers around the world use Hubble Space Telescope to research new exoplanets.

Translations of Terms/Concepts into Partner Languages:

French: Hubble

German: Hubble-Weltraumteleskop

Italian: telescopio spaziale Hubble

Polish: Kosmiczny Teleskop Hubble’a

Swedish: Hubbleteleskopet

Links to Videos/Articles:

• Space Telescope Science Institute (n.d.), Hubblesite, Retrieved from Website hubblesite.org

• Garner, R. (2017, December), Observatory – Optics, Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/hubble-space-telescope-optics-system

• Royal Museum Greenwich (n.d.), What has the Hubble Space Telescope Discovered?, Retrieved from https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/what-has-hubble-space-telescope-discovered

• NASA, ESA (2000, January), Hubble Space Telescope, SM3A, Retrieved from https://esahubble.org/images/sts103_713_048/

  
  

Definition:

ClearSpace-1 is a mission targeting the removal of the Vega Secondary Payload Adapter (Vega) which is planned for launch in 2025. The mission is brought forward as a service contract with a startup-led commercial consortium, to help establish a new market for in-orbit servicing, as well as debris removal.

The ClearSpace-1 ‘chaser’ will be launched into a lower 500-km orbit for commissioning and critical tests before being raised to the target orbit for rendezvous and capture using a quartet of robotic arms under ESA supervision. The combined chaser plus Vespa will then be deorbited to burn up in the atmosphere.

Etymology:

Sample Sentences(s):

Translations:

• French:
  
• German:
  
• Polish: Misja ClearSpace-1
  
• Swedish:

Links to Videos/Articles:

ESA - ESA commissions world’s first space debris

earth observation for sustainable development (esa.int) removal

Definition:

A European Earth observation programme aiming at monitoring land, atmosphere and the marine environment, supporting emergency management, ensuring civil security and mitigating the consequences of climate change.

The programme was officially established in 2014 by the European Commission and the European Space Agency, serving as a successor of the project GMES (Global Monitoring of Environmental Security), which has existed since 1998. Copernicus Programme utilizes the Sentinel missions for surveillance and observation of land, ocean and atmosphere, as well as a range of contributing missions organized by various countries.

Etymology:

The programme is named after Nicolaus Copernicus, who was a Renaissance scientist and the author of the heliocentric model of the Universe.

Translations:

• French:
  
• German:
  
• Polish: Program Copernicus
  
• Swedish:
  

Links to Videos/Articles:

https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Europe_s_Copernicus_programme

https://www.copernicus.eu/en/copernicus-services

https://www.copernicus.eu