Glossary C

Combustion, or burning, is a high-temperature exothermic redox chemical reaction between a fuel (the reductant) and an oxidant, usually atmospheric oxygen, that produces oxidized, often gaseous products, in a mixture termed as smoke.

Deutsch: Brennkammer / Español: Cámara de combustión / Português: Câmara de combustão / Français: Chambre de combustion / Italiano: Camera di combustione

Combustor in the space industry context refers to a component of rocket engines and jet propulsion systems where the combustion of fuel and oxidizer takes place. This process generates the high-pressure and high-temperature gases needed to produce thrust and propel spacecraft, satellites, and other space vehicles.

English: Comet / Deutsch: Komet / Español: Cometa / Português: Cometa / Français: Comète / Italiano: Cometa /

Comet refers to a small, icy, dusty celestial body that orbits the Sun. Comets are typically made up of a mixture of water ice, dust, and other volatile materials, and they are often referred to as "dirty snowballs." When a comet is close to the Sun, the heat of the Sun causes the volatile materials in the comet to vaporize, creating a bright halo of gas and dust around the comet's nucleus, called a coma. The coma is often surrounded by a bright, glowing halo called a coma, which is visible to telescopes and other instruments. The coma and the halo can be several times larger than the nucleus of the comet itself.

Comets are believed to originate in the outer solar system, beyond the orbit of Pluto. They are thought to be remnants of the early solar system, preserved in the cold, dark regions of the outer solar system for billions of years. When a comet is perturbed by the gravitational influence of a planet or other celestial body, it can be pushed into an orbit that brings it closer to the Sun. As the comet gets closer to the Sun, the heat of the Sun causes the volatile materials in the comet to vaporize, creating the coma and halo that are visible from Earth.

There are many different types of comets, ranging from small, short-period comets that take just a few years to orbit the Sun to large, long-period comets that take thousands of years to orbit the Sun. Some comets are highly active and produce large, bright comas and halos, while others are less active and have smaller, fainter comas and halos. Despite their small size and distant origins, comets have played an important role in the history of astronomy and have been the subject of much scientific study.

Here are a few examples of comets that have been studied by astronomers:

• Halley's Comet: Halley's Comet is a short-period comet that orbits the Sun every 76 years. It was named after the English astronomer Edmond Halley, who was the first to predict that the comet was periodic and would return to Earth's vicinity. Halley's Comet is one of the most famous comets in history, and it has been observed by astronomers for hundreds of years. The comet is most famous for its bright, glowing coma and halo, which can be seen from Earth with the naked eye.

• Comet Hyakutake: Comet Hyakutake is a long-period comet that orbits the Sun every 30,000 years. It was discovered in 1996 and was visible from Earth with the naked eye for several weeks. During its close approach to the Sun, Comet Hyakutake produced a bright, glowing coma and halo that was visible from Earth.

• Comet ISON: Comet ISON was a short-period comet that was discovered in 2012. It was expected to be visible from Earth with the naked eye in late 2013 as it made its closest approach to the Sun. However, the comet disintegrated as it passed close to the Sun and was not visible from Earth.

• Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko: Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is a small, short-period comet that was visited by the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft in 2014. The spacecraft orbited the comet and even landed a small probe on its surface. The mission provided scientists with a unique opportunity to study the composition and structure of a comet up close.

Overall, comets are fascinating celestial objects that have captivated the imagination of astronomers and the general public for centuries. They continue to be the subject of much scientific study and exploration.

Deutsch: Verkehrsflugzeug / Español: Avión Comercial / Português: Avião Comercial / Français: Avion Commercial / Italiano: Aereo di Linea

Commercial Airliner in the space industry context refers to the use and potential adaptation of conventional passenger aircraft for space-related operations, as well as the evolving concept of airliners that can operate at the edge of space or beyond. While traditional commercial airliners are primarily designed for atmospheric flight, the space industry is exploring ways to integrate these aircraft into space logistics, high-altitude operations, and as platforms for future suborbital travel, blurring the lines between aviation and spaceflight.

Deutsch: Kommerzielle Luftfahrt / Español: Aviación comercial / Português: Aviação comercial / Français: Aviation commerciale / Italiano: Aviazione commerciale

Commercial aviation in the space industry refers to the development and operation of space transportation services and infrastructure by private companies for profit, rather than government agencies. This includes the launching of satellites, human spaceflight, and cargo transportation to outer space. Commercial aviation in this context often works in partnership with government space programs like NASA, ESA, or Roscosmos, but is driven by private-sector innovation and investment.

Deutsch: Kommerzielle Raumfahrt / Español: Vuelo espacial comercial / Português: Voo espacial comercial / Français: Vol spatial commercial / Italiano: Volo spaziale commerciale

Commercial spaceflight refers to the development, operation, and marketing of space travel and activities by private companies for profit. This includes launching satellites, space tourism, and providing transportation services to and from space, outside of government-funded space agencies.

Deutsch: Komitee / Español: Comité / Português: Comitê / Français: Comité / Italiano: Comitato

Committee in the space industry context refers to a group of experts, stakeholders, or representatives who come together to oversee, advise on, or make decisions regarding various aspects of space missions, policies, research, and development. These committees can be found within space agencies, international space organizations, research institutions, and private space companies. Their roles can range from governance, regulatory compliance, and safety oversight to guiding scientific objectives, technical standards, and ethical considerations in space exploration and utilization.

Deutsch: Kommunikation / Español: Comunicación / Português: Comunicação / Français: Communication / Italiano: Comunicazione /

Communication is an essential aspect of the aerospace industry, as it plays a crucial role in a wide range of activities, including:

Deutsch: Kommunikation und Koordination / Español: Comunicación y Coordinación / Português: Comunicação e Coordenação / Français: Communication et Coordination / Italiano: Comunicazione e Coordinamento

Communication and Coordination are essential components in the space industry. They refer to the methods and processes used to ensure effective information exchange and organized efforts among various entities involved in space missions, including spacecraft, ground control, international space agencies, and other stakeholders.

Deutsch: Kommunikator / Español: Comunicador / Português: Comunicador / Français: Communicateur / Italian: Comunicatore

Communicator in the space industry refers to devices or systems used for communication between spacecraft, space stations, ground control, and other entities involved in space missions. These systems ensure the reliable transmission of data, commands, and information across vast distances in space.

Deutsch: Fach / Español: Compartimiento / Português: Compartimento / Français: Compartiment / Italiano: Scompartimento /