Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

space-time

(Encyclopedia)space-time, central concept in the theory of relativity that replaces the earlier concepts of space and time as separate absolute entities. In relativity one cannot uniquely distinguish space and time...

space law

(Encyclopedia)space law, agreements governing the exploration and use of outer space, developed since the first launching (1957) by humans of a satellite into space. Space law, an aspect of international law, has g...

space travel

(Encyclopedia)space travel: see space exploration; space science. ...

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

(Encyclopedia)National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), civilian agency of the U.S. federal government with the mission of conducting research and developing operational programs in the areas of space e...

space probe

(Encyclopedia)space probe, space vehicle carrying sophisticated instrumentation but no crew, designed to explore various aspects of the solar system (see space exploration). Unlike an artificial satellite, which is...

outer space

(Encyclopedia)outer space: see space exploration. ...

space biology

(Encyclopedia)space biology: see exobiology.

Webb Space Telescope

(Encyclopedia)Webb Space Telescope or James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), is an infrared space telescope, the largest in space at its launc...

Voyager, space probes

(Encyclopedia)Voyager, in space exploration: see space exploration; space probe. ...

Mercury space program

(Encyclopedia)Mercury space program: see space exploration. ...