The Complete Book of Spaceflight: From Apollo 1 to Zero Gravity

Advanced Space Transportation Program (ASTP)
One of NASA’s most forward-looking technology programs,
based at Marshall Space Flight Center and aimed
at developing new forms of space transportation. These
include the next generation of launch vehicles beyond
the Space Shuttle, spacecraft with air-breathing engines,
magnetic levitation launch-assist, beamed-energy propulsion,
space tethers, solar-electric propulsion, pulsedetonation
rocket engines, and antimatter propulsion.
Other exotic technologies that may one day propel
robotic and manned missions to the stars are being examined
as part of the Breakthrough Propulsion Physics
Program.
AEM (Applications Explorer Mission)
A series of three Explorer spacecraft that investigated
Earth and its environment. Each spacecraft had a name
other than its AEM and Explorer designations. See
HCMM (AEM-1, Explorer 58), SAGE (AEM-2, Explorer
60), and Magsat (AEM-3, Explorer 61).
aeolipile
An ancient device, invented by Hero of Alexandria,
which was based on the action-reaction (rocket) principle
and used steam as a propulsive gas. It consisted of a specially
made sphere on top of a water kettle. A fire below
Aerobee 9
the kettle turned the water into steam, which traveled
through pipes to the sphere. Two L-shaped tubes on opposite
sides of the sphere allowed the gas to escape, and in
doing so gave a thrust to the sphere that caused it to spin.
No practical use for the aeolipile was found at the time, it
being an oddity similar to the clay bird of Archytas.
AERCam (Autonomous Extravehicular
Robotic Camera)
A free-flying robotic camera that will be used during the
construction and maintenance of the International
Space Station (ISS) to provide external views for astronauts
inside the Space Shuttle and the ISS, and for
ground controllers. It is being developed at the Johnson
Space Center. An early version of the camera, called
AERCam Sprint, was tested aboard the Shuttle Columbia
on mission STS-87 in November 1997.
aeroballistics
The study of the motion of bodies whose flight path is
determined by applying the principles of both aerodynamics
and ballistics to different portions of the path.
Aerobee
An early sounding rocket that was essentially a larger,
upgraded version of the WAC Corporal. The Aerobee
Aerobee An Aerobee 170 on its transporter at the White Sands Missile Range. U.S. Army/White Sands Missile Range