S is for…
NASA’s Picture Dictionary
Satellite
A natural moon or man-made object that orbits a planet or other object.
Sentences:
NASA has put different kinds of satellites in orbit around Earth.
Our moon is a satellite to Earth.
Related Links:
What is a Satellite? (Grades K-4)
What is a Satellite? (Grades 5-8)
Season
A time of year, caused by Earth’s tilt. A year on Earth is usually divided into four quarters, or seasons: spring, summer, autumn or fall, and winter.
Sentences:
NASA studies the seasons on Earth and on other planets.
Fall is my favorite season of the year.
Related Links:
NASA Now Minute: Reasons for the Seasons
What Causes the Seasons?
Simulator
A device that imitates or pretends to do a certain activity.
Sentences:
Astronauts use many different kinds of simulators to get ready to go into space.
When I sat in the race car simulator, I felt like I was in a race!
Solar
Having to do with the sun.
Sentences:
The solar panels on the space station collect energy from the sun.
Some people use solar power to heat their homes.
Related Links:
Solar Flares
Solar Arrays
Long panels of solar cells that change sunlight into electricity.
Solar Eclipse
Something that happens when the moon comes between the sun and Earth so that all or part of the sun’s light is blocked from Earth.
Sentences:
Always protect your eyes before watching a solar eclipse.
The solar eclipse made the sky look dark at lunchtime.
Related Links:
Steps of a Solar Eclipse
What is a Solar Eclipse? (Grades K-4)
What is a Solar Eclipse? (Grades 5-8)
Solar Flares
Storms on the sun that send out both rays and particles.
Sentences:
Solar flares can cause problems for radio and television signals.
Related Links:
Many Solar Flares on the Sun
Solar Panel
Groups of solar cells that collect the sun’s energy and change it into electrical power.
Sentences:
The Hubble Space Telescope uses solar panels for energy.
Solar panels on rooftops collect energy from the sun that can be used for heat and power.
Related Links:
Solar Panels on a Rooftop
Solar Panels on the Hubble Space Telescope
Game: It’s Not the Same
Solar System
The sun and all the planets, moons, comets and asteroids that move around the sun.
Sentences:
Our solar system’s star is the sun.
My science teacher gave us a project to learn more about the planets in the solar system.
Related Links:
The Solar System at NASA Space Place
Sonic Boom
A loud noise caused by the meeting of shock waves made when an object goes faster than the speed of sound.
Sentences:
The sonic boom from the speeding jet made the birds on the beach fly away.
The crack of a whip is a mini sonic boom.
Related Links:
Video: Sonic Booms Explained
Video: 60 Second Science – Sonic Booms
Sound
A type of energy that can be heard.
Sentences:
Sound can travel through air, water and even metal.
Some NASA airplanes can fly faster than the speed of sound.
Related Links:
Make a Sound Cone
South Pole
The southernmost point of Earth’s axis.
Sentences:
Some NASA scientists work at the South Pole.
The South Pole is on the continent of Antarctica.
Related Links:
What Is Antarctica? (Grades K-4)
What Is Antarctica? (Grades 5-8)
Which Pole is Colder?
Soyuz
A Russian spacecraft that carries people into space.
Sentences:
The Soyuz spacecraft carries astronauts and cosmonauts to and from the space station.
Related Links:
What Is the Soyuz Spacecraft? (Grades K-4)
What Is the Soyuz Spacecraft? (Grades 5-8)
Space
The region beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Sentences:
NASA works with other countries to explore space.
Space is known as the final frontier.
Related Links:
What’s in Space? Storybook
Space Launch System
NASA’s new rocket, also called the SLS.
Sentences:
The Space Launch System is the most powerful rocket ever built.
Astronauts will return to the Moon on the Space Launch System.
Related Links:
SLS Coloring Book (PDF)
Space Shuttle
A reusable spacecraft that took people and cargo between Earth and space. The space shuttle made many trips from 1981 to 2011.
Sentences:
The first space shuttle launched in 1981.
The space shuttle was not made to go to the moon or Mars.
Related Links:
What was the Space Shuttle? (Grades K-4)
What was the Space Shuttle? (Grades 5-8)
Spacesuit
A suit that protects astronauts from the dangers of space.
Sentences:
The first spacesuits that NASA astronauts wore were a shiny silver color.
Astronauts must wear a spacesuit when they go outside their spacecraft.
Related Links:
What Is a Spacesuit? (Grades K-4)
What Is a Spacesuit? (Grades 5-8)
Spacewalk
Any activity done outside the spacecraft while in space.
Sentences:
The astronauts went on a five-hour spacewalk to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.
Astronauts train for spacewalks in a large pool called the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory.
Related Links:
The First U.S. Spacewalk
What is a Spacewalk? (Grades K-4)
What is a Spacewalk? (Grades 5-8)
Speed of Sound
The rate at which a sound wave travels through something, such as air or water. This rate can change depending on air temperature and density. In Earth’s atmosphere, at sea level on a normal day, this equals about 760 miles per hour.
Sentences:
Chuck Yeager was the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound.
The speed of sound is also called Mach 1.
Related Links:
Video: 60 Second Science – Sonic Booms
Stage
One of two or more sections of a rocket, each section having its own fuel and engine.
Sentences:
The solid rocket boosters were part of the first stage of the space shuttle.
A rocket gets lighter by dropping each stage once it runs out of fuel.
Star
A huge ball of very hot, glowing gas that gives off both heat and light.
Sentences:
We call the star in our solar system “the sun.”
Stars are different colors. Some are hotter than others.
Related Links:
Make Colorful Star Cookies!
