Glossary M

Deutsch: Maschine / Español: Máquina / Português: Máquina / Français: Machine / Italiano: Macchina

Machine in the space industry refers to any mechanical or electromechanical system engineered to perform specific functions that aid in space exploration, satellite operation, or spacecraft function. These machines are often highly specialized, designed to withstand the unique conditions of space, such as extreme temperatures, vacuum, and radiation.

Deutsch: Magellan / Español: Magellan / Português: Magellan / Français: Magellan / Italiano: Magellan

Magellan refers to the NASA spacecraft that was designed to map the surface of Venus using radar imaging. The Magellan mission, which operated from 1989 to 1994, provided unprecedented detailed images of Venus's surface, revealing its geological features and contributing significantly to our understanding of the planet.

A magnetometer is a device that measures magnetic field or magnetic dipole moment. Different types of magnetometers measure the direction, strength, or relative change of a magnetic field at a particular location.

In astronomy and planetary science, a magnetosphere is a region of space surrounding an astronomical object in which charged particles are affected by that object's magnetic field.

Deutsch: Magnitude / Español: Magnitud / Português: Magnitude / Français: Magnitude / Italian: Magnitudine

Magnitude in the space industry context refers to the measurement of various properties or phenomena, often related to brightness, size, or intensity. It is a versatile term used in different areas, including the measurement of stellar brightness, the intensity of forces, or the scale of events and objects in space.

Description

In the space industry, magnitude can refer to several key aspects depending on the specific context:

1. Apparent Magnitude: This is a measure of the brightness of a celestial object as seen from Earth. The concept originates from astronomy, where stars and other celestial bodies are ranked based on their brightness. The scale is logarithmic, meaning a difference of one magnitude represents a significant change in brightness. For example, a star with a magnitude of 1 is significantly brighter than a star with a magnitude of 2. The lower the magnitude number, the brighter the object. This measurement is crucial for selecting targets for observation and understanding the characteristics of celestial bodies.

2. Absolute Magnitude: While apparent magnitude measures how bright an object appears from Earth, absolute magnitude measures the intrinsic brightness of an object, standardized at a distance of 10 parsecs (about 32.6 light-years). This allows astronomers to compare the true luminosities of celestial objects regardless of their distance from Earth. Understanding absolute magnitude is important for assessing the energy output of stars, galaxies, and other cosmic phenomena.

3. Order of Magnitude: In engineering and space mission planning, order of magnitude refers to the scale or size of a quantity in powers of ten. It is used to estimate and compare different values, such as the mass of spacecraft, distances between celestial bodies, or the energy required for specific maneuvers. This concept helps engineers and scientists grasp the relative size or impact of different factors in space missions.

4. Seismic Magnitude: In the context of planetary exploration, especially on bodies like the Moon or Mars, magnitude can refer to the measurement of seismic events, such as moonquakes or marsquakes. Similar to how earthquakes are measured on Earth, the magnitude of these seismic activities is crucial for understanding the internal structure and geological activity of other planets.

Application Areas

1. Astronomy: Magnitude is used to measure the brightness of stars, planets, and other celestial objects, helping in the study and classification of these bodies.
2. Astrophysics: Absolute magnitude provides a standard measure to compare the true luminosities of stars and galaxies, aiding in the understanding of their properties and evolution.
3. Space Mission Planning: Engineers use the concept of order of magnitude to make decisions about spacecraft design, mission feasibility, and energy requirements.
4. Planetary Science: Seismic magnitude measurements on other planets provide insights into their internal structure and tectonic activity.

Well-Known Examples

1. The Sun’s Apparent Magnitude: The Sun, with an apparent magnitude of -26.74, is the brightest object in our sky, significantly outshining all other celestial bodies.
2. Vega’s Absolute Magnitude: The star Vega has an absolute magnitude of 0.58, making it one of the standard reference points for the magnitude scale.
3. Richter Scale for Marsquakes: NASA's InSight mission on Mars measures seismic magnitudes to study the planet's interior, similar to how earthquakes are measured on Earth.

Treatment and Risks

Understanding magnitude in its various forms is essential for accurate observations, calculations, and planning in the space industry. Misinterpreting magnitude can lead to errors in data analysis, mission planning, or the assessment of celestial phenomena. For instance, incorrect measurements of apparent magnitude could result in choosing the wrong targets for observation, while errors in seismic magnitude could mislead scientists about a planet’s geologic activity.

Similar Terms

• Luminosity: Refers to the total amount of energy emitted by a star or celestial object, closely related to absolute magnitude.
• Intensity: In a general sense, this can refer to the strength or power of a signal, light, or force, which can be measured in terms of magnitude.
• Scale: The relative size or extent of something, often used in conjunction with magnitude to describe the size or impact of space-related phenomena.

Summary

Magnitude in the space industry is a versatile term used to measure brightness, intensity, size, and other key properties of celestial objects and phenomena. Whether referring to the apparent brightness of stars, the absolute luminosity of distant galaxies, or the scale of seismic events on other planets, magnitude plays a crucial role in space exploration, astronomy, and mission planning.

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Deutsch: Wartung / Español: Mantenimiento / Português: Manutenção / Français: Entretien / Italian: Manutenzione

Maintenance in the space industry refers to the processes and activities involved in preserving and repairing spacecraft, satellites, space stations, and other space-related systems. This ensures that these systems continue to operate effectively and safely throughout their mission duration. Maintenance is crucial in the space industry because any failure in space systems can have catastrophic consequences, including the loss of valuable assets and, in some cases, human lives.

Deutsch: Hauptteile einer Rakete in Originalgröße / Español: Partes principales de un cohete a escala real / Português: Principais partes de um foguete em tamanho real / Français: Principales parties d'une fusée à pleine échelle / Italiano: Principali parti di un razzo a dimensioni reali /

There are four major systems of a full-scale Rocket:

English: Malfunction / Deutsch: Fehlfunktion / Español: Malfunción / Português: Malfuncionamento / Français: Dysfonctionnement / Italiano: Malfunzionamento /

Malfunction in the space industry context refers to the failure or abnormal behavior of spacecraft, satellites, space probes, or any space-related equipment. These malfunctions can range from minor glitches to catastrophic failures and can occur at any stage of a mission, from launch to deployment and operation. In this article, we will explore the concept of malfunction in the space industry, discuss its significance and potential consequences, and provide examples of notable space malfunctions.

In the space industry context, maneuverability refers to the ability of a spacecraft, satellite, or any space vehicle to change its trajectory, orientation, or velocity within space. This capability is critical for a wide range of operations, including orbit insertion, docking with other spacecraft or space stations, avoiding space debris, and conducting specific mission objectives such as planetary exploration or satellite servicing. Maneuverability is determined by the design of the spacecraft, including its propulsion system, thrusters, and control mechanisms.

Deutsch: Nutzlastmanifest / Español: Manifiesto de carga / Português: Manifesto de carga / Français: Manifeste de charge utile / Italiano: Manifesto del carico utile

Manifest in the space industry context refers to the detailed list or inventory of payloads, including satellites, scientific instruments, supplies, or any cargo intended for space missions, that are scheduled to be launched aboard a spacecraft or rocket. The manifest outlines critical information such as the weight, dimensions, type, and specific requirements of each payload, as well as its intended orbit and function. It is an essential tool for mission planning, ensuring that the launch vehicle can accommodate and safely deliver all payloads to their designated orbits. The manifest is also used for coordination among various stakeholders, including space agencies, commercial entities, and scientific institutions, to optimize the launch schedule and payload configuration.

The Manifold absolute pressure is a crucial parameter for measuring the performance of an aircraft engine. The manifold absolute pressure is the pressure of the air inside the engine's intake manifold. It is a measure of the force that the engine's pistons must overcome to draw in air for combustion.

Deutsch: Bemanntes Raumfahrtmission / Español: Misión Espacial Tripulada / Português: Missão Espacial Tripulada / Français: Mission Spatiale Habitée / Italiano: Missione Spaziale con Equipaggio

Manned Space Mission refers to space missions that involve human astronauts travelling into space to conduct scientific research, exploration, maintenance of spacecraft, or other activities. These missions are distinguished from unmanned or robotic missions by the presence of a human crew, making them more complex and demanding in terms of safety, life support, and mission planning. Manned space missions have been central to human space exploration, from early flights in Earth’s orbit to ambitious plans for lunar and Martian exploration.

Deutsch: Hersteller / Español: Fabricante / Português: Fabricante / Français: Fabricant / Italiano: Produttore /

A manufacturer is a company or organization that produces goods, typically on a large scale, for sale to customers. The term "manufacturing" refers to the process of turning raw materials into finished products through the use of tools, machines, and other forms of production.

Manufacturing in the aerospace industry refers to the production of aircraft, spacecraft, and related components and systems. This typically involves a range of activities, including the design and development of prototypes, the procurement of raw materials and components, the assembly and testing of finished products, and the maintenance and repair of existing aircraft.

MAP --->'manifold absolute pressure'

Deutsch: Kartierung / Español: Cartografía / Português: Mapeamento / Français: Cartographie / Italiano: Mappatura /

In the aerospace context, mapping refers to the process of creating maps, charts or images of the Earth's surface, or other celestial bodies using data collected by aircraft or spacecraft. This data can be used for a variety of purposes such as navigation, scientific research, resource management, and military operations.

In the aerospace context, "Mariner" is the name of a series of American spacecraft missions conducted by NASA during the 1960s and 1970s. The Mariner missions were designed to explore the inner planets of the solar system, including Venus, Mars, and Mercury.

In the aerospace context, Mars refers to the fourth planet from the Sun in the solar system. Mars is a rocky planet that is known for its reddish appearance and its rocky terrain, which includes mountains, valleys, and plains.

Deutsch: Marsatmosphäre / Español: Atmósfera de Marte / Português: Atmosfera de Marte / Français: Atmosphère de Mars / Italiano: Atmosfera di Marte

Mars Atmosphere in the space industry context refers to the thin, cold, and carbon dioxide-rich gaseous envelope surrounding Mars. Understanding the Martian atmosphere is crucial for planning and conducting missions to Mars, including robotic explorations, human landings, and potential future colonisation. The atmosphere influences various mission aspects, such as landing techniques, surface operations, radiation exposure, and potential resource utilisation for life support and propulsion.

Deutsch: Mars-Erkundungssatellit / Español: Orbitador de Reconocimiento de Marte / Português: Orbitador de Reconhecimento de Marte / Français: Orbiteur de Reconnaissance de Mars / Italiano: Orbiter di Ricognizione di Marte

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in the space industry context refers to a NASA spacecraft designed to study Mars from orbit. Launched in 2005, it plays a crucial role in examining the Martian surface, atmosphere, and climate, as well as serving as a communication relay for other Mars missions.