10 SPACE TRAVEL, ELECTRIC PROPULSION AND SCIENCE FICTION terms
Science fiction has motivated the scientific community to find ways to send people into space, and it continually encourages the development and improvement of space technology. This paper outlines the relationship between science fiction and science fact throughout the history of electric propulsion, exploring the capabilities of modern space technology and comparing it with that of science fiction.
chamber
noun
chamber of rocket
Example: The discharge chamber often consists of a conical and a cylindrical configuration, with the plasma generator located at the back of the chamber.
it: camera
chemical rockets
noun
Chemical rockets are powered by exothermic reduction-oxidation chemical reactions of the propellant
Example: chemical rockets were used to send people to space, but this technology was found to be inefficient, expensive and unsuitable for sending humans on long journeys.
it: Razzo chimico
electrostatic
noun
relating to stationary electric charges or fields as opposed to electric currents.
Example: a feasible solar-powered electrostatic EP concept for space travel
it: elettrostatico
flyby
noun
Flight of a spacecraft in the vicinity of a planet or satellite for observation purposes.
Example: In an attempt to give a representative comparison, we will assume that they follow approximately the same path as Dawn during the Mars flyby portion of its mission to the asteroid belt.
it: sorvolo
Hall Effect
noun
the production of a potential difference across an electrical conductor when a magnetic field is applied in a direction perpendicular to that of the flow of current.
Example: This magnetic field transverses the electric field resulting in the Hall Effect, which forces the electrons into an azimuthal drift as they become confined to a gyrating path along the magnetic field lines in the E×B direction
it: effetto hall
launched
verb
set (a boat) in motion by pushing it or allowing it to roll into the water.
"the town's lifeboat was launched to rescue the fishermen"
Example: Subsequently, NASA’s Dawn spacecraft, launched in September 2007, employed three xenon GIEs, expanded from the IPS used on DS1,
it: lanciato
plasma thrusters
noun
A plasma propulsion engine is a type of electric propulsion that generates thrust from a quasi-neutral plasma. This is in contrast with ion thruster engines, which generate thrust through extracting an ion current from the plasma source, which is then accelerated to high velocities using grids/anodes.
Example: space travel, science fiction, plasma thrusters, ion thrusters, electric propulsion
it: propulsione al plasma
radiation
noun
the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, especially high-energy particles which cause ionization.
Example: On the upside, unmanned satellites and scientific probes are not restricted by these health risks (although, some components may become damaged by radiation over time)
it: radiazione
solar arrays
noun
an ordered series or arrangement.
"several arrays of solar panels will help provide power"
it: pannello solare
telecommunications satellites
phrase
A communications satellite is an artificial satellite that relays and amplifies radio telecommunication signals via a transponder; it creates a communication channel between a source transmitter and a receiver at different locations on Earth.
Example: In recent years, EP has become the popular choice, in particular, for telecommunications satellites and constellations.
