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Space Psychologist

Examines the mental and emotional health of astronauts during long missions.

Previous Words of the Week:

Ablation

What is Ablation? Ablation is the erosion of a solid body by a high-temperature gas stream moving with high velocity, e.g. a re-entry vehicle's heat shield which melts or chars under the effects of air friction.

Abort

Put simply, abort is to cancel or cut short a mission.

Absolute Magnitude

A measure of how bright a star really is, if all stars were the same distance away.

Acceleration

Acceleration is the name we give to any process where there is a change in velocity.

Action and Reaction

Newton’s Third Law – every action force has an equal and opposite reaction force.

Adaptive Optics

A technology that corrects for atmospheric distortion in ground-based telescopes.

Aerodynamics

The study of how air flows around moving objects like rockets, planes, or cars.

Aerospace

The branch of technology and engineering concerned with flight within Earth’s atmosphere and in outer space.

Aerospace Engineer

Designs and tests aircraft, rockets, and spacecraft systems.

Air Pressure

The force of air particles pressing on a surface.

Air Resistance

A frictional force that opposes motion through air; also called drag.

Airframe

The main physical structure of an aircraft or rocket, excluding engines and payloads.

Altitude

The height of an object above the ground or sea level.

Altitude (Orbit)

The height of a satellite above Earth’s surface, usually measured in kilometres.

Andromeda Galaxy

The nearest large galaxy to the Milky Way, about 2.5 million light years away.

Antenna

A device for sending or receiving radio waves for communication with spacecraft.

Antimatter

Matter made of particles opposite to normal matter (e.g., positrons instead of electrons). When matter and antimatter meet, they destroy each other and release energy.

Apogee (Flight)

The highest point reached by a rocket during flight before descending.

Apogee (Orbit)

The highest point in a satellite’s orbit around Earth.

Apparent Magnitude

How bright a star appears from Earth.

Asteroid

A rocky object orbiting the Sun, smaller than a planet, mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Asteroid Belt

The region between Mars and Jupiter where most asteroids orbit the Sun.

Astrobiologist

Studies the possibility of life beyond Earth and the conditions needed for it.

Astronomer

A scientist who studies stars, planets, galaxies, and the universe.

Astrophysicist

A physicist who applies laws of physics to explain how celestial bodies behave.

Atmosphere

A layer of gases surrounding a planet or moon. Earth’s atmosphere contains oxygen, nitrogen, and other gases.

Atmospheric pressure

Atmospheric pressure is the air around you that has weight.

Atmospheric Scientist

Studies Earth’s atmosphere, weather, and climate, often using satellite data.

Attitude Control

The system that maintains or changes a spacecraft’s orientation in space.

Aurora

A natural light display in the sky caused by charged particles from the Sun interacting with Earth’s magnetic field.

Axis

An imaginary line around which a planet rotates, giving day and night.

Balanced Forces

When opposing forces are equal, causing no change in motion.

Bernoulli’s Principle

The faster air moves, the lower its pressure — important in lift and aerodynamics.

Big Bang Theory

The scientific theory that the universe began as a tiny, extremely hot and dense point about 13.8 billion years ago and has been expanding ever since.

Binary Star

Two stars orbiting around a common centre of gravity.

Biochemist (Space)

Investigates how living organisms and biological molecules behave in space conditions.

Black Dwarf

A theoretical cold, dark remnant of a white dwarf after it has cooled completely.

Black Hole

A region of space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape.

Black Hole Singularity

The centre of a black hole where gravity is infinitely strong and space-time curves infinitely.

Blueshift

When light waves from a moving object are compressed as it moves towards us, making the light appear bluer.

Booster Rocket

A powerful first-stage engine that provides the initial thrust needed for lift-off.

Burn

A period when a rocket engine is firing to change speed or direction.

Calibration

Adjusting instruments so their measurements are accurate and reliable.

Capsule

The crew or instrument compartment of a spacecraft, often designed to return safely to Earth.

CCD (Charge-Coupled Device)

A sensitive digital chip that captures images in telescopes and cameras.

Centre of Gravity

The point where an object’s weight acts evenly in all directions.

Centre of Mass

The average location of all mass in an object.

Centre of Pressure

The point where aerodynamic forces act on a rocket or aircraft.

Cepheid Variable

A type of star that regularly brightens and dims, used to measure distances to faraway galaxies.

Circular Orbit

An orbit where the satellite’s distance from Earth remains constant.

Climate Scientist

Uses space data to monitor global temperature, greenhouse gases, and environmental changes.

Comet

An icy object that orbits the Sun; when close, it forms a glowing tail of gas and dust.

Communications Engineer

Designs satellite and radio systems that transmit signals between Earth and spacecraft.

Compression

A force that squeezes or shortens a material.

Computer Scientist (Space)

Develops software for data analysis, spacecraft control, and AI for robotic missions.

Constellation

A pattern of stars named after shapes, animals, or mythological figures.

Control Surfaces

Parts like fins or flaps that change direction during flight.

Core (Star)

The centre of a star where nuclear fusion occurs, releasing energy.

Corona

The Sun’s outer atmosphere, visible during a total solar eclipse.

Cosmic Background Radiation

Faint microwave radiation left over from the Big Bang, filling the universe.

Cosmic Rays

High-energy particles that travel through space, sometimes hitting Earth’s atmosphere.

Cosmic Web

The large-scale structure of the universe, showing galaxies arranged in filaments and voids.

Cosmology

The study of the origin, structure, and evolution of the universe.

Countdown

The timed sequence leading up to a rocket launch.

Crater

A circular depression on a planet or moon’s surface caused by an impact.

Crew Module

The section of a spacecraft that houses astronauts and life-support systems.

CubeSat

A small, cube-shaped satellite (usually 10 cm per side) used for low-cost missions.

Dark Energy

A mysterious force thought to cause the accelerating expansion of the universe.

Dark Matter

Invisible matter that doesn’t emit light but has mass and affects the movement of galaxies.

Data Analyst

Interprets large sets of data from telescopes, satellites, or experiments.

Data Relay Satellite

A satellite that transmits data between other spacecraft and ground stations.

Day

The time it takes for a planet to complete one full rotation on its axis.

Deceleration

A decrease in velocity — negative acceleration.

Deep Space

The vast regions of space beyond Earth’s solar system.

Deep Space Network (DSN)

A global system of large radio antennas used to communicate with distant probes.

Density

Mass per unit volume — how much matter is packed into a space.

Deorbit

The controlled process of bringing a spacecraft out of orbit to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.

Displacement

The straight-line distance and direction from a starting to finishing point.

Docking

When two spacecraft join together in orbit.

Docking Port

A connection point allowing two spacecraft to join.

Doppler Effect

The change in the wavelength of waves (like light or sound) when the source moves relative to an observer.

Downlink

The radio signal sent from a spacecraft to Earth.

Drag

The resistance force caused by a fluid (air or water) opposing motion.

Dwarf Planet

A small planet-like object that orbits the Sun but hasn’t cleared its orbit of other debris.

Dynamic Pressure

The pressure due to fluid motion = ½ ρv² (where ρ is density).

Efficiency

The ratio of useful energy output to total energy input.

Elastic Force

The restoring force that returns a stretched or compressed material to its original shape.

Elliptical Galaxy

A round or oval-shaped galaxy containing older stars and little gas or dust.

Elliptical Orbit

An elongated orbit where the distance from Earth changes continuously.

Energy

The ability to do work - measured in joules (J).

Equator

An imaginary line around the middle of a planet that divides it into northern and southern hemispheres.

Equilibrium

When all forces on an object balance so there is no acceleration.

Escape Trajectory

A path allowing a spacecraft to break free from a planet’s gravity.

Escape Velocity

The minimum speed needed for an object to break free from a planet’s gravitational pull.

EVA (Extravehicular Activity)

Work done by an astronaut outside a spacecraft, such as a spacewalk.

EVA Suit

A pressurised suit worn by astronauts during spacewalks to provide life support and protection.

Event Horizon

The boundary around a black hole beyond which nothing can escape, not even light.

Exoplanet

A planet that orbits a star outside our Solar System. Thousands have been discovered.

Expansion of the Universe

The idea that galaxies are moving away from each other as space itself stretches over time.

Fairing

A structure whose main function is to streamline and smooth the surface of an aircraft or space vehicle.