Page 5 - A is for Astronaut: Blasting Through the Alphabet

NASA engineers invented and
perfected the concept of space
rendezvous in the 1960s. The word
comes from the French language and
means “to meet at a certain time and
place.” This “meeting” gets a tad bit
more complicated when it’s scheduled
to happen in outer space.

Consider the much-simplified
example of a football game where
the coach has called for a pass play.
In order for the pass play to be
successful, the quarterback must
throw the football (spaceship one)
to the pass receiver (spaceship two)
R is for Rendezvous, who will catch the ball. The quarter-
meaning in space we will meet. back throws the ball to where the
To bring two ships together receiver is going to be—not where he
is at the instant he makes the throw.
can be quite the feat. When the ball finally arrives and the

Using thrust from our engines, receiver makes the catch, the play
smart computers, and plans, is a success! This is similar to the
way spaceships will dock, or meet,
if we do it correctly, crews can finally shake hands! in space.