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Word of the Week

Our Words of the Week open the door to a world where language and discovery go hand in hand. With over 350 carefully chosen terms from across the STEM universe — from ‘ablation’ and ‘atmospheric pressure’ to ‘thrust’ and ‘gravity’ — we’re not just teaching vocabulary, we’re sparking curiosity.

Each word is an invitation to ask questions, explore new ideas and see the world through a fresh, scientific lens. By understanding the language of STEM, young people gain the confidence to join the conversation, to innovate, and to imagine themselves as the problem-solvers and pioneers of tomorrow.

Whether it’s decoding how the universe works or designing solutions for real-world challenges, our Words of the Week help build the knowledge, confidence and inspiration that future generations need to thrive. One word at a time, we’re empowering learners to think bigger, reach higher and become the changemakers our world needs.

Artemis

The Artemis programme intends to re-establish a human presence on the Moon for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

Previous Words of the Week:

Speed

The distance travelled per unit time — measured in m/s.

Spiral Galaxy

A galaxy with arms spiralling out from a central bulge, like the Milky Way.

Stability

The ability of a rocket or aircraft to maintain controlled flight.

Staging

The process of discarding used rocket stages to reduce weight during ascent.

Standard Candle

An astronomical object (like a Cepheid or supernova) with known brightness, used to measure distance.

Star Cluster

A group of stars that formed from the same cloud of gas and dust.

Star Tracker

An optical sensor that determines orientation by comparing visible stars to a database.

Steady State Theory

A rejected theory that the universe has always existed and looks the same at all times.

Stellar Evolution

The life cycle of a star, from formation to death.

Streamlining

Designing objects with smooth shapes to reduce air resistance.

String Theory

A theoretical idea that all particles are tiny vibrating strings, possibly linking gravity to quantum physics.

Sun-Synchronous Orbit

A polar orbit timed so a satellite passes each point at the same local solar time daily.

Sunspot

A dark, cooler area on the Sun’s surface caused by magnetic activity.

Supercluster

A giant group of galaxy clusters linked together by gravity.

Supermassive Black Hole

A black hole with millions or billions of solar masses, found at galaxy centres.

Supernova

A massive explosion that occurs when a large star runs out of fuel and collapses.

Telemetry

The automatic transmission of data from a spacecraft to Earth.

Telemetry Data

The stream of numerical information about spacecraft performance sent to Earth.

Telescope (Optical)

An instrument that gathers and focuses light to make distant objects appear closer.

Terminal Velocity

The constant speed reached when drag balances weight in free fall.

Test Flight

A trial launch used to evaluate performance or safety before full missions.

Thermal Control System

Equipment that keeps spacecraft at stable temperatures.

Thrust

Thrust is the force that propels a rocket or spacecraft measured in pounds, kilograms or Newtons.

Thrust-to-Weight Ratio

The measure of how much thrust a rocket produces compared with its own weight.

Tidal Forces

The stretching forces caused by differences in gravity across an object’s length.

Tilt

The angle of a planet’s axis; Earth’s 23.5° tilt causes the seasons.

Time-Lapse Imaging

A technique combining many images over time to show changes or motion in space.

Torque

A twisting or turning effect caused by a force acting at a distance from a pivot.

Tracking Station

A ground facility that monitors and communicates with spacecraft.

Trajectory

The curved path a rocket or spacecraft follows through space.

Trajectory

The path followed by a moving object under the influence of forces like gravity and drag.

Transfer Orbit

A temporary path used to move a satellite from one orbit to another.

Universe

Everything that exists — all matter, energy, planets, stars, galaxies, and the space between them.

Uplink

The radio signal sent from Earth to a spacecraft.

Upthrust

The upward force on an object immersed in a fluid - makes objects float.

Vacuum of Space

A region with extremely low pressure and almost no particles.

Vector

A quantity that has both size (magnitude) and direction.

Vector Thrust

Steering a rocket by directing the angle of its exhaust flow.

Velocity

Speed in a given direction.

Velocity Change (Δv)

The total change in speed required for a space manoeuvre or mission.

Vertical Launch

A launch where the rocket lifts off straight upward before pitching over.

Vibration

A back-and-forth motion of particles or structures around a fixed point.

Void

A vast, nearly empty region of space between galaxy clusters.

Wavelength

The distance between two peaks of a wave, such as light or sound.

Weather Satellite

A spacecraft that monitors weather patterns, cloud cover, and environmental changes on Earth.

Weight

The force of gravity acting on an object’s mass (W = mg).

Weightlessness

The sensation of having no weight, caused by free fall in orbit.

White Dwarf

The small, dense remnant of a star like the Sun after it has used up its fuel.

White Hole

A theoretical opposite of a black hole that expels matter instead of pulling it in (not yet observed).

Work Done

Energy transferred when a force moves an object (W = Fd).

X-ray Telescope

Observes high-energy radiation from sources such as black holes and neutron stars.

Yaw

Rotation of an aircraft or rocket around its vertical axis (turning left or right).

Year

The time it takes for a planet to orbit its star once.

Zohar

Helga & Zohar are mannequin torsos that took flight on Orion.