Fire support bases (FSBs) are military installations that provide artillery support and other forms of indirect fire to assist ground troops during combat operations. They are typically established in a forward location, close to the frontline, to enhance the responsiveness and effectiveness of indirect fire units like artillery, mortars, and sometimes air support.

The Sundial Cannon is a unique timekeeping device that combines the principles of a sundial and a cannon. It operates as a sundial, using the position of the sun to indicate the time of day. However, its distinct feature is that it fires a cannon at a designated time, usually at noon, to provide an audible signal of the time. In many cases, such cannons were historically used in harbor towns or military installations to mark the hour for sailors and civilians alike.

Ballistic capture is a technique used in the context of spacecraft navigation and orbital mechanics. It refers to the process by which a spacecraft is captured by the gravity of a celestial body (such as a planet or a moon) without the need for significant propulsion maneuvers. Instead, the spacecraft approaches the celestial body on a trajectory that allows it to enter into stable orbit due solely to the body's gravity. This technique is particularly useful for missions where fuel efficiency is crucial.

Lambert's problem is a classical problem in astrodynamics and orbital mechanics that involves determining the orbital parameters of a celestial body, particularly in the context of spacecraft navigation. Specifically, it focuses on determining the orbit of an object given its positions at two distinct points in time and the time interval between these observations.

A parking orbit is a temporary orbit used by a spacecraft after launch and before it transitions to its final operational orbit or destination. It serves as a staging point where the spacecraft can perform checks, systems tests, and make final adjustments before executing further maneuvers, such as a transfer orbit to another location or a rendezvous with another spacecraft or celestial body.

Space rendezvous refers to the planned meeting or joining of two or more spacecraft in space. This often involves one spacecraft approaching another in orbit to either dock with it, transfer crew or cargo, or conduct research. Space rendezvous operations are crucial for various missions, including: 1. **Crew Transfer**: Transporting astronauts between spacecraft, such as the transportation of crew between the International Space Station (ISS) and crew vehicles.

A room-temperature superconductor is a material that can conduct electricity without resistance at temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher, which is considered room temperature. Traditional superconductors generally require extremely low temperatures to exhibit superconductivity, often close to absolute zero (-273.15 degrees Celsius or -459.67 degrees Fahrenheit).

MXenes are a family of two-dimensional (2D) materials that are composed of transition metal carbides, nitrides, or carbonitrides. They were first discovered in 2011 and have since attracted significant interest in the fields of materials science and engineering due to their unique properties and potential applications.

Materials testing is a process used to evaluate the physical, mechanical, chemical, and sometimes thermal properties of materials to understand their behavior under different conditions. This testing is essential in various industries, including construction, aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, and electronics, as it helps ensure that materials meet specified requirements and performance standards for their intended applications.

Polymer chemistry is a branch of chemistry that focuses on the study of polymers, which are large molecules composed of repeating structural units called monomers. These polymers can occur naturally, like cellulose and proteins, or they can be synthetic, such as plastics like polyethylene and polystyrene.

Woodward, Inc. is a publicly traded company primarily focused on providing control solutions for aircraft and industrial engines. Their products are used in a variety of applications, including aerospace, power generation, and industrial markets. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of control systems, fuel systems, and other components that enhance engine performance, efficiency, and emissions reduction.

Adhesion refers to the tendency of different surfaces or substances to cling to each other. It is a physical phenomenon that occurs at the interface between two materials, where intermolecular forces between molecules of different substances cause them to stick together. Adhesion is important in a variety of fields, including materials science, biology, and engineering.

Sandwich-structured composites are engineered materials that consist of two thin, strong outer layers (often referred to as skins) and a lightweight core material sandwiched between them. This configuration allows them to achieve high stiffness and low weight, making them particularly useful in applications where minimizing weight while maintaining structural integrity is crucial.

Ceramic foam is a type of porous material made from ceramics that is characterized by its light weight, high structural integrity, and excellent thermal and acoustic insulation properties. It is produced by introducing a foaming agent into a ceramic slurry, which is then processed to create a foam-like structure. This structure contains a network of interconnected pores or voids, giving it a low density.

Edward Orton Jr. is primarily known as an American ceramic engineer and a pioneer in the field of ceramics. He played a significant role in the development of ceramic materials and their applications in various industries. Orton is also recognized for founding the Orton Ceramic Foundation. This organization focuses on supporting education and research in the field of ceramics, particularly in relation to pottery and ceramics science.

The colloidal probe technique is a powerful method used in surface science and materials characterization. It involves the use of a colloidal particle, typically a microsphere, which is functionalized to interact with a surface of interest. The primary objective of this technique is to measure the interaction forces between the colloidal particle and the surface, providing insights into the surface properties, such as roughness, chemistry, and mechanical behavior.

Coulomb explosion is a phenomenon that occurs when charged particles experience a rapid and violent repulsion due to their like charges. It is primarily relevant in contexts involving ions or charged clusters and is driven by the Coulomb force, which describes the interaction between charged entities.

Crystal twinning refers to a phenomenon where two or more individual crystals, known as "crystal individuals," share some of the same crystal lattice points in a symmetrical manner, resulting in a single, unified crystal structure. This occurs during the growth of crystals when conditions allow for the incorporation of multiple crystals into one entity. Twin crystals can exhibit different shapes, orientations, and properties, depending on how they are formed and the specific conditions under which the twinning occurs.

Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP) is a sophisticated nanofabrication technique that utilizes the interference of laser beams to create micro- and nanoscale patterns on various surfaces. This process relies on the constructive and destructive interference of coherent laser beams to produce periodic intensity patterns, which can then be transferred to a substrate to create intricate designs. ### Key Features of DLIP: 1. **Interference of Light**: DLIP typically involves the overlapping of two or more coherent laser beams.

Dragontrail is a type of strengthened glass that is commonly used in the manufacturing of electronic devices, particularly smartphones and tablets. Developed by the Japanese company Asahi Glass Co., it is known for its high durability and resistance to scratches and impacts. Dragontrail glass is designed to enhance the robustness of touchscreens and displays, making it suitable for devices that are subject to frequent handling and potential drops.