Boilerplate (spaceflight)

Okay kiddo, so when scientists and engineers build space vehicles like rockets and satellites, they need to make sure that they have a lot of basic parts and processes that are ready to go. They don't want to have to start from scratch every time they build a new vehicle, right? That would take too much time and money.

So, they create something called "boilerplate" designs. These are like blueprints or templates that they can use over and over again for different vehicles. The word "boilerplate" actually comes from the printing industry, where it referred to pre-made pieces of text that could be used in multiple documents.

In the context of spaceflight, a boilerplate might be a dummy spacecraft that has the same shape and size as a real one, but with no actual equipment or instruments inside. It's just for testing and training purposes. Or, it might be a set of standard procedures for launching a rocket, communicating with ground control, and so on.

By having these boilerplate designs and procedures in place, scientists and engineers can save time and money, improve safety, and make sure that every vehicle they build is up to the same high standard.