NASA Triad: Power Points

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Power Points

These are NASA generated powerpoints that are available for your use; just download the PowerPoint presentation. Some presentations have speaker notes and some do not. PowerPoints are arranged alphabetically by audience level.

 

Title Description Subject

General Public

A Galaxy Full of Black Holes (8.91 MB) Answer common questions asked by the public: What happens to a spaceship that falls into a black hole? Will the black holes in our Galaxy eventually suck up everything in it - a cosmic vacuum cleaner? What would happen to Earth if the Sun was replaced by a black hole of the same mass? If we can't see black holes, how do we know they are there?
Source
blackholes, einstein, stars, astronomy
Are All the Stars Like Our Sun? (1.019 MB) PowerPoint and suggested script (in the PowerPoint) on "Sun-like" Stars; discusses what kind of stars we can see with the unaided eye and which stars are like our Sun. You might be surprised!
Source
stars, orion, Cassiopeia, big and little dipper, astronomy
Back to the Future (6.16 MB) A Power Point presentation describing human space flight from the days of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo, through the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, and back to the Moon with the Crew Exploration Vehicle.
Source
Date: Jan. 25, 2005
Space history, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000, 2005, 2011, 2020, International Space Station, moon base
How Telescopes Changed our Understanding of the Universe: PowerPoint How Telescopes Changed our Understanding of the Universe (3.63 MB This PowerPoint (with speaker notes) and suggested script is about major discoveries made with telescopes and their technologies that changed the way we understand our universe. Use the activities in the links below to make the presentation come alive for your visitors.
Source
telescopes, history, astronomy, Galileo, sun, stars, universe, galexy
Invention Process (1.26 MB) A Power Point presentation given by the brothers during "Take Your Kids to Work" Day at NASA Glenn.
Source
Date: June 2005
telescopes, history, astronomy, Galileo, sun, stars, universe, galexy
Kepler Mission: The Search for Earth-sized Planets (5.9 MB) PowerPoint with speaker notes explaining NASA's Kepler Mission to search for transiting planets orbiting in the habitable zone around other stars.
Source
Date: 2009
Kepler Mission, habitable planets, planets, planet sizes, detecting planets
Math and Explorers (510 KB) A Power Point presentation giving a quick example of Newton's laws applied to stomp rocket flight.
Source
Date: Aug. 29, 2005
Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide, Fractions, Decimals,Percentages, Ratios and Proportions, Approximation and Interpolation, Geometry (Line-Area-Volume), Functions, Exponents, Logarithms, Graphs and Tables, Algebra, Trigonometry, Vectors, Calculus, Newton's Laws, flight, force
Orion Nebula Unveiled (1.89 MB) PowerPoint and script (speaker notes) for use at your outreach or club events. Edit as needed.
Source
stars, orion nebula, telescope, star life cycles
Rocket Science - College (490 KB) A Power Point presentation giving the mathematical details of rocket propulsion and flight using calculus.
Source
Date: Oct 21, 2005
forces, airplane, rocket, Newton's Laws, payload, frames, propulsion, trajectory, gravety, weight, rocket parts
Wind Tunnel Aerodynamics (3.42 MB) A Power Point presentation prepared by Dr. Charles Trefny describing wind tunnel models, types and operation.
Source
Date: Sept. 20, 2002
Aerodynamics, Newton's laws, wind tunnel, force
Wright Brothers at Huffman Prairie (8.97 MB) A presentation describing the flight experiments of the Wright brothers at Huffman Prairie from 1904 to 1905.
Source
Date: Oct. 5, 2005
history of flight, Wright brothers, airplane, forces
Wright Brothers' Invention Talk (4.44 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the invention process of the Wright brothers from 1899 to 1905.
Source
Date: Winter 2003
flight, history, wright borthers, phyics, engine, lift, wind tunnel, aerodynamics
Wright Brothers' Talk (1.29 MB) A shorter version of the Power Point presentation describing the invention process of the Wright brothers from 1899 to 1905. Contains only photographs taken by the brothers.
Source
Date: Winter 2003
flight, history, wright borthers, engine, wind tunnel, aerodynamics
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Teachers

A Trip to the Airport (3 MB) A Power Point presentation containing many pictures of airliners as the are leaving from, flying to, and returning to an airport. The pictures are chosen to demonstrate many aerodynamic design principles.
Source
Date: July 2009
flying, design aerodynamcis
Aerodynamics (1.004 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the basics of physics for moving fluids. Also includes a section on the Standard Day atmosphere model and software, topics concerning relative velocity, and terminology applied to airplanes.
Source
Date: July 2009
physics, Newton's Laws, fundimentals of aerodynamics, Kenetic Theory of Gases, Conservation Laws, Atmosphere, forces, relative velocities, speed of sound
Airplanes (4MB) A Power Point presentation containing many pictures of military aircraft. The pictures are chosen to demonstrate aerodynamic design principles.
Point of authorship
Source
Date: July 2009
flying, aerodynamics
Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics Overview (1.83 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics.
Source
Date: July 2009
Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics, resources, Math, science, Newton
Beginner's Guide to Propulsion (420 KB) A Power Point presentation prepared for teachers, describing EngineSim and the Beginner's Guide to Propulsion.
Source
Date: May 1, 2001
Interactive Software, Aeronautics
Beginner's Guide to Wind Tunnels with TunnelSim and TunnelSys (1.41 MB) A Power Point presentation prepared for AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, describing the Beginner's Guide to Wind Tunnels and accompanying software.
Source
Date: Jan. 4, 2010
Wind, physics, Aeronautics
DAWN Spacecraft (5.53 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the DAWN mission to orbit the asteroids Vesta and Ceres.
Source
Date: July 19, 2007
astroid, satalite, space craft, Dawn, rocket thrust
Design Process (1.4 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the process of design for aircraft. Also includes and activity built around the process of design, manufacture, and flight test of a paper airplane.
Source
Date: July 2009
engineer, career, engineering process, aero space, hands-on acitivty, teemwork
Educator Astronaut (14.43 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the mission profile for STS-118.
Source
Date: July 13, 2007
STS-118, Space Shuttle Endeaver, rocket thrust, international space station, STS-120
FoilSim - Beginner's Guide To Aerodynamics (532 KB) A Power Point presentation prepared for teachers, describing FoilSim and the Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics.
Source
Date: Feb. 27, 2003
Interactive Software, Aeronautics
Forces and Motion (599 KB) A Power Point presentation describing the forces that act on an airplane.
Source
Date: July 16, 2004
Force, Newton, aerodynamics, weight, falling objects, motion, lift, drag, terminal velocity
Forces and Motion (1.9 MB) A Power Point presentation prepared describing the forces that act on an airplane.
Point of authorship
Source
Date: July 16, 2004
Force, Newton, aerodynamics, weight, falling objects, motion, lift, drag, terminal velocity, misconceptions
Forces and Motion (2.17 MB) A Power Point presentation given by "Wilbur Wright" about the forces in flight and the resulting motion of an airplane.
Point of authorship
Source
Date: July 13, 2005
Newton, Newton's laws, physics, force, aerodynamics, lift, thrust, motion
Forces and Motion (884 KB) A Power Point presentation describing the four forces of flight and the resulting linear motion of an aircraft.
Point of authorship
Source
Date: July 2009
force, linear motion, Newton's Laws, weight, lift, aerodynamics, drag, thrust, velocity, gravity, climb
History of Humans in Space (10.75 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the history of human space travel, from Vostok to the ISS. An undergraduate version of this talk is also available.
Source
Date: Feb. 15, 2005
History, space, Early Man in Space, Moon Race, Early Space Stations, Space Shuttle, Space Stations, rocket
Introduction to FoilSim, EngineSim and RocketModeler (419 KB) A Power Point presentation prepared for college students describing the use of computer simulations to model complex physics problems.
Source
Date: Feb. 2, 2004
Physics, Rockets, Aeronautics, Newton
Kites (682 KB) A Power Point presentation describing the aerodynamics of kites, the Beginner's Guide to Kites, and software.
Point of authorship
Source
Date: July 2009
Kites, Beginner's Guide to Kites, forces, aerodynamics, construction, torque, control line, Newton's Laws, Kite safety
On-line Aerodynamics Educational Resources (435 KB) A Power Point presentation prepared for teachers, which gives an overview of the on-line resources available from the Education Programs Office.
Point of authorship
Source
Date: Nov. 2, 2004
Interactive Software, Aeronautics
Rocket Science - for Teachers (1.46 MB) A Power Point presentation giving even more mathematical details of rocket propulsion and flight.
Source
Date: July 28, 2005
rockets, rocket systems, orbit, Newton's Laws, forces, weight, force, areodynamics, drag, atmosphere, terminal velocity, engine, math
Shapes and Materials (625 KB) A Power Point presentation describing the variables that drive the selections of materials and shape of an aircraft.
Source
Date: July 2009
speed of sound, enthalpy, conservation of energy, gas, speed
Stability and Control (1.67 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the conditions necessary for flight stability. Also discussed is the action of flight control devices on an aircraft.
Source
Date: July 2009
motion, forces, aerodynamics, gravity, stability and control, lift
Theories of Lift (887 KB) A Power Point presentation describing some of the incorrect and the correct theory that describes the generation of lift.
Source
Date: July 2009
Lift, Newton, Bernoulli, theory, aerodynamics, forces, euler equation, Bound Vortex Theory, Prandtl Lifting Line Theory
Wind Tunnel Experiments for Grades 8 - 12 (1.015 MB) A Power Point presentation prepared by Dr. Judy Van Zante describing the operations of wind tunnels and possible student experiments.
Source
Date: June 15, 1999
lift, velocity, physics, wind tunnel, drag
Wright Brothers' Talk (5.29 MB) A longer version of the Power Point presentation describing the invention process of the Wright brothers from 1899 to 1905.
Source
Date: Mar. 30, 2004
history, wright brothers, force, weight, phyics, lift, engine, wind tunnel, aerodynamics
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High School

Aerodynamic Lift Talk (338 KB) A Power Point presentation prepared for students describing aerodynamic lift.
Source
Date: Dec. 10, 2002
Aeronautics, Physics, lift, force
Aerodynamics, Propulsion and Model Rockets Talk (441 KB) A Power Point presentation prepared for students describing forces and Newton's laws applied to airplanes and model rockets.
Source
Date: Feb. 24, 2003
Aeronautics, Physics, lift, force
Aerospace Career Talk (786 KB) A Power Point presentation describing aspects of a career in aerospace engineering.
Source
Date: Aug. 25, 2003
Engineer, career
Black Holes in a Different Light (2.58 MB) "Black Holes in a Different Light" presentation.
Source
Date: August 2003
blackholes, stars, astronomy
Falling Objects (1.69 MB) A Power Point presentation prepared for describing the physics and mathematics of falling objects in a vacuum and in the atmosphere and Galileo's other scientific interests
Source
Date: July 6, 2006
Specific Grade Level: 11th Grade
Galileo, history, gravity, space, sun, falling objects, force
Falling Objects (562 KB) A Power Point presentation prepared describing the physics and mathematics of falling objects in a vacuum and in the atmosphere.
Source
Date: May 20, 2004
Specific Grade Level: 12th Grade
Galileo, gravity, physics, aerodynamics, Newton's laws, drag, terminal velocity
Forces on an Airplane (393 KB) A Power Point presentation prepared for students describing the four forces on an airplane and methods for modeling those forces.
Source
Date: Mar. 25, 2003
Force, Physics, aeronautics, Newton, Drag, Thrust, Weight, Lift
Forces on an Airplane (2.89 MB) A more graphic Power Point presentation prepared for students describing the four forces on an airplane and methods for modeling those forces.
Source
Date: Jun. 1, 2005
Force, Physics, aeronautics, Newton, Drag, Thrust, Weight, Lift
Human Biology in Space (2.96 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the biological problems people face in low earth orbit.
Source
Date: Feb. 3, 2005
Specific Grade Level: 10-12 Grades
Space, humans, life, medical problems, disorentation
Humans to Mars (3.85 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the problems involved with going to Mars.
Source
Date: Feb. 5, 2006
Specific Grade Level: 10-12 Grades
space, Mars, environment, medical problems, loss of muscle tone, disorentation, radiation, getting to the surface
The Invention Process (1.02 MB) A Power Point presentation given by "Wilbur and Orville Wright" about the scientific processes used in the invention of the airplane.
Source
Date: Feb 24, 2003
history, wright brothers, force, weight, phyics, lift, engine, wind tunnel, aerodynamics
Jet Propulsion Talk (485 KB) A Power Point presentation prepared for students describing jet engines and the equations which describe their operation.
Source
Date: Feb. 24, 2003
propulsion, thrust, physics
Making Sun-Earth Connections (4.64 MB) This content presentation has been rewritten on four different grade levels. Each presentation includes colorful graphics and presentation notes to help students understand the dynamics of the Sun, of the aurora, and of the turbulent space around Earth.
Source
Date: 2006
sun, star, solar wind, aurora, technology, sunspots, solar flares, solar cycles, solar storms, research, atmosphere, Coronal Mass Ejections, Earth’s Magnetosphere, spacecraft, space weather, sun earth connections
Model Rocket Stability and Control (502 KB) A Power Point presentation describing how model rockets and real rockets are controlled during launch.
Source
Date: Jan. 5, 2004
Specific Grade Level: 10-12th grade
Newton, Newton's laws, physics, force, aerodynamics, lift, thrust, motion, gravity, rocket
Out of Control Talk (1.49 MB) A Power Point presentation prepared for students describing flight control and how flight control has evolved from the Wright brothers until today.
Source
Date: April 7, 2003
light, forces, wright brothers, physics
Rocket Modeler Talk - Beginner's Guide to Rockets (595 KB) A Power Point presentation prepared for students, describing RocketModeler and the forces on a model rocket.
Source
Date: Feb. 26, 2003
Physics, Rockets, Aeronautics, Newton
Rocket Science - Advanced (785 KB) A Power Point presentation giving more mathematical details of rocket propulsion and flight.
Source
Date: Apr. 21, 2005
Specific Grade Level: 10th grade
forces, airplane, rocket, Newton's Laws, payload, frames, propulsion, trajectory, gravety, weight, rocket parts
Simple Machines (1.85 MB) A Power Point presentation about simple machines and how they were used by the Wright brothers in the invention of the airplane.
Source
Date: Nov. 14, 2005
Specific Grade Level: 10th grade
forces, physics, motion, simple machines, lever, incline plane, wedge, screw, pulleys, gears, wright brothers
Simple Machines (6.04 MB) A Power Point presentation about simple machines and how they are applied to problems related to rocketry.
Source
Date: Oct. 12, 2005
machine, force, object, input, output, Inclined Plane, Wedge, Screw, Lever, Wheel and Axle, Pulley
Simple Machines (1.93 MB) A Power Point presentation about simple machines and how they are applied to problems related to rocketry.
Source
Date: Feb. 22, 2005
machine, force, object, input, output, Inclined Plane, Wedge, Screw, Lever, Wheel and Axle, Pulley
Simple Machines (1.62 MB) A Power Point presentation about simple machines and how they are applied to problems related to rocketry.
Source
Date: Feb. 14, 2005
machine, force, object, input, output, Inclined Plane, Wedge, Screw, Lever, Wheel and Axle, Pulley
Solar Eclipses Through Space and Time: Cycles in the Sky (9.72 MB) With this presentation (complete with notes) you will learn what a solar eclipse is and what it looks like, how and why solar eclipses happen, types of solar eclipses, eclipse cycles, scientific research performed during solar eclipses and the March 29th 2006 Solar Eclipse! An eclipse activity involving calculation of angular diameters is included.
Source
Date: March 29, 2006
history of eclipse, solar eclipse, angles, moon orbit
Teamwork in Aerospace (343 KB) A presentation prepared for National Engineer's Week which contains instructions and slides for an activity built around teamwork in aerospace. Groups of students form small companies to build and test paper airplanes in a NASA competition.
Source
Date:July 2009
career, engineer, teamwork, activity
Total Solar Eclipse of March 29th 2006 (7.37 MB) Make your next presentation a memorable one with this extraordinary PPT show directly from Fred Espenak.
Source
Date: 2006
eclipse, geometry, earth and moon orbit, shadow, sun
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Middle School

Asteroids (12.78 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the asteroid belt, spacecraft that have visited asteroids, and the chances for asteroids hitting the Earth.
Source
Date: Oct. 5, 2006
astroid, satalite, crater, Earth impact, comet
Earth-Moon System (4.06 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the Earth-Moon system, including the tides, eclipses, craters, and formation of the Moon.
Source
Date: May 21, 2007
space, moon, Earth, scale, Crater, revolution, formation, lunar and solar eclipse, tides, gravity, phases of the moon, exploration, 1970
History of Humans in Space (19.17 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the history of human space travel, from Vostok to the ISS.
Source
Date: Feb. 15, 2005
Specific Grade Level: 6th grade
history, space, space crafts, man
History of the Apollo Moon Program (5.02 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the history of the moon program. Includes pictures from all of the Apollo missions of the early 1970's.
Source
Date: Mar. 17, 2005
Specific Grade Level: 7th grade
Apollo, history, space, missions
Humans in Space (2.99 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the space environment and the problems people face in low earth orbit.
Source
Date: Jan. 21, 2005
Specific Grade Level: 8th grade
space, gravity, humans
Making Sun-Earth Connections (4.66 MB) This content presentation has been rewritten on four different grade levels. Each presentation includes colorful graphics and presentation notes to help students understand the dynamics of the Sun, of the aurora, and of the turbulent space around Earth.
Source
Date: 2006
sun, star, solar wind, aurora, technology, sunspots, solar flares, solar cycles, solar storms, research, atmosphere, Coronal Mass Ejections, Earth’s Magnetosphere, spacecraft, space weather
Ratios and Proportions (1.67 MB) A Power Point presentation given by "Wilbur Wright" about ratios and proportions and how they were used in the invention of the airplane.
Source
Date: Nov. 2, 2004
Specific Grade Level: 6th grade
Math, ratio, proportion, fraction, decimal proportion, lift, drag, aerodynamics
A Review of Man in Space (6.72 MB) A Power Point presentation giving some information on space history, moon landings, rocket science, and future plans.
Source
Date: May 31, 2005
Specific Grade Level: 6th Grade
rockets, forces, payloads, history of spaceflight
Risks in Space Flight (10.47 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the space environment and the risks associated with space flight.
Source
Date: Jan. 5, 2005
Specific Grade Level: 8th grade
space, environment, getting to space, Apollo, space disasters, training accidents
Risks in Space Flight II (5.3 MB) A Power Point presentation showing images from spaceflights in which the crew and ground control saved the mission.
Source
Date: Feb. 22, 2005
Specific Grade Level: 8th grade
space, environment, getting to space
Rocket Science (832 KB) A Power Point presentation describing the basics of rocket propulsion and flight.
Source
Date: Feb. 23, 2005
Specific Grade Level: 8th grade
forces, airplane, rocket, Newton's Laws, payload, frames, propulsion, trajectory, gravety, weight
Solar Eclipses (3.24 MB) Enjoy this presentation complete with beautiful graphicsabout a NASA spacecraft called SOHO that creates a false eclipse with its coronograph instrument and observes the Sun all day, everyday. Its observations can be compared with others on Earth during an eclipse to learn even more about them. If desired, you can also download and include two separate animations below.
Source
Date: 2006
eclipse, sun, orbit, earth
Space Rocks (10.29 MB) Talk about our smallest neighbors, their properties, how we are searching for them, and what we might do to avoid future impacts.
Source
Date: 2010
Specific Grade Level: 7th-8th grade
astroids, moon, solar system, planets, crators, dinosaurs extinction, meteorites, impacts
Sun, Earth, and Moon (783 KB) Learn more about total, partial and annular solar eclipses! You will also see examples of a variety of celestial bodies that are always “eclipsing” or moving in front of each other.
Source
Date: 2006
Specific Grade Level: 8th grade
phases of the moon, moon, eclipses, earth, sun, tides, Jupiter Io
Supernova in the Lives of Stars (9.46 MB) What is a supernova? Where do they fit in the lives of stars? Are they dangerous to life on Earth? How would the universe be different if supernovae never occurred? This PowerPoint explores these and other questions about the powerful stellar explosion: the supernova.
Source
Specific Grade Level: 7-8th grade
supernova, stars, earth, astronomy, universe
The Space Race (1.64 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the race to the moon.
Source
Date: May 13, 2004
Specific Grade Level: 8th grade
history, space, Russia
The Wright-Curtiss Connection (6.1 MB) A Power Point presentation showing pictures from the early days of aviation, with particular emphasis on the Wright Brothers, Langley, Bell, and Glenn Curtiss.
Source
Date: Feb. 2, 2005
Specific Grade Level: 6th grade
flight, history, wright borthers, phyics, engine, lift, wind tunnel, aerodynamics
Wright 1903 Engine Talk (25.51 MB) A Power Point presentation prepared describing the operation of the Wright brothers' 1903 gasoline-powered, internal combustion engine.
Source
Date: Apr. 10, 2003
flight, history, wright borthers, phyics, engine
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Elementary School

Build the Station (15.41 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the mission profile for STS-117.
Source
Date: Apr. 20, 2007
Specific Grade Level: 5th grade
Space Shuttle Discovery, rocket thrust, international space station, STS-117
Falling Objects (1.3 MB) A Power Point presentation prepared describing the physics and mathematics of falling objects in a vacuum and in the atmosphere.
Source
Date: May 20, 2004
Specific Grade Level: 5th grade
Galileo, gravity, motion, force, drag, terminal velocity
High Speed Flight (406 KB) A Power Point presentation prepared describing the various flight regimes and problems associated with high speed flight.
Source
Date: Mar. 15, 2004
Specific Grade Level: 4th grade
states of matter, speed of sound, forces, physics
Making Sun-Earth Connections, 3-5 (3.14 MB) This content presentation has been rewritten on four different grade levels. Each presentation includes colorful graphics and presentation notes to help students understand the dynamics of the Sun, of the aurora, and of the turbulent space around Earth.
Source
Date: 2006
Specific Grade Level: 3-5 grades
sun, star, solar wind, aurora, technology, sunspots, solar flares, solar cycles, solar storms
Making Sun-Earth Connections, K-2 (3.18 MB) This content presentation has been rewritten on four different grade levels. Each presentation includes colorful graphics and presentation notes to help students understand the dynamics of the Sun, of the aurora, and of the turbulent space around Earth.
Source
Date: 2006
Specific Grade Level: K-2
sun, star, solar wind, aurora
Our Place in Our Galaxy (9.96 MB) PowerPoint and speacker notes/activities for presenting a scale model of the Solar System compared to our Galaxy. Often referred to as the "Birdseed Galaxy" presentation.
Source
Specific Grade Level: 3-5
milky way, solar system, scale, activity
Return to Flight (2.82 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the mission profile for STS-114, Return to Flight of the Space Shuttle.
Source
Date: Apr. 27, 2005
Specific Grade Level: 5th grade
space shuttle, missions, history
The Space Shuttle (2.42 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the parts and mission profile for the Space Shuttle.
Source
Date: Oct. 19, 2004
Specific Grade Level: 5th grade
space shuttle, missions, history
The Space Shuttle (4.63 MB) A Power Point presentation describing the many different missions of the Space Shuttle.
Source
Date: Oct. 25, 2005
Specific Grade Level: 5th grade
history of missions, missions, space shuttle
This IS Rocket Science (838 KB) A Power Point presentation describing the basics of rocket propulsion and flight. Includes the launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavor.
Source
Date: Oct. 15, 2004
Specific Grade Level: 5th grade
forces, airplane, rocket, Newton's Laws, payload, frames, propulsion, trajectory
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