ScienceJuly 17, 2026

truss

/trʌs/

Definition

A rigid framework of beams or bars, typically in a triangular arrangement, used to support a larger structure.

Etymology

Derived from the Old French 'trousse,' meaning a bundle or package, which entered English in the 14th century. It evolved to refer to the supportive bundles of timber or metal used in construction and engineering.

In the news

The article mentions that some 'truss segments' are dense enough to survive reentry during the ISS's final descent. These segments serve as the station's structural backbone, holding its various components together in space.

The International Space Station loses about 100 meters of altitude a day and must be shoved back up by a docked Russian thruster roughly once a month to keep from falling

Read the full article ↗

ScienceBlog.com

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