Space Terms Explained
Decode the cosmos with the official Astro-Lithic Squadron dictionary.
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Satellite
A robot buddy that zooms around a planet! It snaps cool pictures and sends signals back to us on Earth. Think of it as our eye in the sky!
Orbit
This is the invisible racetrack a satellite follows around a planet. Gravity is the super-glue that keeps it on track so it doesn't float away!
Pico Satellites
Super tiny satellites, sometimes no bigger than your hand! They prove that even the smallest explorers can have the biggest adventures.
Space Exploration
Humanity's greatest quest! It's all about sending rockets, robots, and brave astronauts to uncover the awesome secrets of the universe. To infinity and beyond!
Climate Observation
Satellites are like Earth's doctors! They check on our planet's health by watching the weather, ice caps, and forests from way up high.
Sensors
These are the super-senses of a satellite! Special cameras and tools that can see heat, measure light, and find cosmic clues that our eyes can't see.
Star
A giant, glowing ball of hot gas, like our Sun! Stars are the twinkle lights of the universe, and some are so far away they look tiny.
Planet
A huge, round world that travels around a star. Earth is our favorite planet, but there are billions of others out there to discover!
Moon
A planet's best buddy that orbits around it. Earth's moon lights up our night sky and loves to play peek-a-boo with the clouds.
Galaxy
A gigantic city of stars, dust, and planets all held together by gravity. We live in the Milky Way galaxy, which is like a cosmic swirl of fun!
Astronaut
A space hero! Astronauts are super-smart explorers who travel in rockets to visit the moon, space stations, and maybe one day, other planets!
Rocket
A powerful space taxi that blasts off from Earth to carry satellites, supplies, and astronauts into outer space. 3... 2... 1... Liftoff!
Earth
Our amazing home! It's a beautiful blue and green marble floating in space, full of cool animals, awesome places, and all of us!
Black Hole
The universe's super-powered vacuum cleaner! Its gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape once it gets too close.
Comet
A cosmic snowball made of ice, rock, and dust! When it gets close to the sun, it grows a beautiful, glowing tail. Whoosh!
Communication
How satellites talk to us! They beam signals down to Earth so we can watch TV, use our phones, and see cool pictures from space.
Propulsion
The big push that gets things moving in space! It's the 'vroom vroom' of a rocket that blasts it off the ground and through the cosmos.
Atmosphere
Earth's super-special air blanket! It protects us from the Sun's strong rays and gives us air to breathe. It's our planet's invisible shield.
Telescope
A magical spyglass for looking at things far away in space! Telescopes help us see planets, stars, and galaxies up close.
Universe
Everything that exists! All the stars, galaxies, planets, and even you are part of the giant, amazing, and mysterious universe.
GPS
A team of satellites that act like a super map! They tell us exactly where we are on Earth and help us find our way to fun places.
Solar Panels
Like a satellite's lunchbox! These shiny wings catch sunlight and turn it into electricity to power up the satellite's gadgets.
Weather Forecasting
Satellites look down at clouds and storms from space to help us know if we need to bring an umbrella or wear sunglasses tomorrow!
Signal Processing
This is how a satellite makes sense of all the information it collects. It's like unscrambling a secret code to get a clear message or picture.
Mission Control
The brain center for every space mission! A team of scientists on Earth who talk to the satellites and astronauts to make sure everything is A-OK.
Zero Gravity
The awesome feeling of being weightless in space! Astronauts can float around and do cool flips inside their spaceship. Whee!
Remote Sensing
Using satellites to study Earth from afar, like taking a photo from a super high place. It helps us map forests, find water, and watch cities grow.
Ground Station
The satellite's pen pal on Earth! These are big antennas that send commands up to the satellite and receive all the cool data it collected.
Asteroid
A big space rock, kind of like a floating mountain! Most of them live in a place called the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Agriculture
Satellites can be super farmers! They check on crops from space to see if they're healthy and have enough water to grow big and strong.
Disaster Monitoring
Like a superhero lookout, satellites watch for big events like hurricanes or forest fires, helping people on the ground stay safe.