The Jargon Of Space

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29898, 11 August 1962, Page 13

The Jargon Of Space

Readers who are doubtful about the shape and size of a fixed frequency topside sounder, a micrometeoroid satellite, a stationary orbit, a synergic curve, or a subatomic particle may find out from a pamphlet list of space project names and a short glossary of space terms, recently published by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the United States.

The pamphlet list will explain that the fixed frequency topside sounder is an ionospheric investigation satellite to study the ionosphere from above to determine its electron density. Its “cognisant centre’’ is the Goddard Space Flight Centre, and its launching vehicle is “Scout.” Many of the other entries

in the list of project names read like a naming exercise for a pack of otter hounds. There are Jaguar, Jason, Javelin, Journeyman, and Jupiter; Pioneer, Pogo, and Prospector; Ranger, Rebound, Redstone, Relay, and Rover; and Saturn, Scout, Sert, Skylark, and Surveyor. They all have their little explanations. (Some occupy half a page of type.) In the short glossary of space terms, even more fascinating entries may be found. "Deep space probes," for instance, and “eyeballs in, eyeballs out.” “Deep space probes” are spacecraft designed for exploring space to the vicinity of the moon, and beyond, explains the glossary. Deep space probes with specific missions may be referred to as “lunar probe,” “Mars probe,” "solar probe,” etc., the glossary says. Now for “eyeballs in, eyeballs out.” This is terminology used by test pilots to.described the acceleration experienced by the person being accelerated, says the glossary. Thus, the acceleration experienced by an astronaut at lift-off ig "Eyeballs in” (positive g in terms of vehicle acceleration), and the acceleration experienced when retrorockets fire is "eyeballs out” (negative g in terms of vehicle acceleration).

The glossary also lists a number of simple terms, such as “sweep,” "torr,” "jerk,” “whistler,” and “ullage.” “Ullage” is explained as "the amount that a container, such as a fuel tank, lacks of being full.”