Space Exploration Vocabulary

These are rocky, airless remnants left over from the early formation of our solar and are found between Mars and Jupiter.

• Astroid

• Comet

• Meteor

• Meteoroid

A celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a “tail” of gas and dust particles pointing away from the sun is viewable.

• Astroid

• Comet

• Meteor

• Meteoroid

A small body of matter from outer space that enters the earth's atmosphere, becoming incandescent as a result of friction and appearing as a streak of light.

• Astroid

• Comet

• Meteor

• Meteoroid

A meteor that survives its passage through the earth's atmosphere such that part of it strikes the ground. More than 90 percent of meteorites are of rock, while the remainder consist wholly or partly of iron and nickel.

• Astroid

• Comet

• Meteor

• Meteorite

All planets revolve around the Sun in this way. This is one of Kepler's laws and the shape of the orbit is a result of the inverse square force of gravity.

• Circular Orbit

• Elliptical Orbit

• Square

• No Pattern

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

A pull or attraction which the Earth exerts on an object, this is the weight of the object.

• Gravitational Attraction

• Magnetic Attraction

• Unbalanced Forces

• Balanced Forces

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS2-5

The difference between the force(s) pushing in one direction and the force(s) pushing in the opposite direction. There are uneven forces acting on a rocket at the moment of lift-off.

• Gravitational Attraction

• Magnetic Attraction

• Unbalanced Forces

• Balanced Forces

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

A cylindrical projectile that can be propelled to a great height or distance by the combustion of its contents, used typically as a firework or signal.

• Rocket

• Jet

• Space Shuttle

• Space Probe

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-1

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

An airplane powered by a jet engine that utilizes the surrounding air in the combustion of fuel.

• Rocket

• Jet

• Space Shuttle

• Space Probe

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-1

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

A rocket-launched spacecraft, able to land like an unpowered aircraft, used to make repeated journeys between the earth and earth orbit.

• Rocket

• Jet

• Space Shuttle

• Space Probe

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-1