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service module
noun
: a space vehicle module that contains oxygen, water, fuel cells, propellant tanks, and the main rocket engine
Examples of service module in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Both the ascent vehicle and waiting service module will begin phasing maneuvers needed to rendezvous and dock, made possible by inertial measurement units, radar and optical navigation, docking ports, capture mechanisms and software algorithms, again using Chang’e-5’s mission profile as guide.
—IEEE Spectrum, 20 Mar. 2024
The samples will be transferred to a reentry module aboard the service module, which will then prepare for the trip back to Earth.
—IEEE Spectrum, 20 Mar. 2024
The leak is in Russia’s Zvezda service module, in a vestibule between the port where the Progress spacecraft docks and the rest of the module, writes Space News’ Jeff Foust.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024
The will to win would not be lacking, but technical challenges are ignorant of will and drive—look, for example, at the oxygen tank explosion that crippled the Apollo 13 command and service module in 1970.
—Lee Hutchinson, Ars Technica, 1 Feb. 2023
Throughout its six missions, the Pentagon has augmented the X-37B with new capabilities, most recently a service module mounted to the vehicle's tail to accommodate more experiments and payloads.
—Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 14 Dec. 2023
On the Orion spacecraft, the worm appeared prominently, on the adapter ring between the capsule and the service module providing propulsion and power, while a small meatball was painted on the capsule, next to the American flag.
—Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2023
The spaceplane weighs about 11,000 pounds (5,000 kilograms), not including the additional weight of its service module.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 8 Nov. 2023
The first lunar module would not be ready for testing in space until early 1969, so in August, Low proposed sending only the Apollo command and service modules on a flight around the Moon in December.
—Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 10 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'service module.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1961, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Service module.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/service%20module. Accessed 13 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
service module
noun
: a part of a space vehicle containing oxygen, water, fuel cells, fuel tanks, and the main rocket engine
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