Space Discovery Hub

Astronauts need expertise, physical preparation, teamwork, communication, and the ability to solve problems in demanding situations. Astronaut candidates can come from fields such as engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, and mathematics, making STEM education an important pathway for students interested in human space exploration.

Long before humans traveled beyond Earth, people studied the sky through observation, mathematics, and increasingly powerful instruments. Telescopes, spectroscopy, photography, and later robotic spacecraft expanded what scientists could learn about distant objects and helped shape our understanding of the universe.

The Moon rotates on its axis in about the same amount of time that it takes to orbit Earth, a phenomenon called synchronous rotation. This means the same lunar hemisphere generally faces Earth as the Moon travels around our planet.

Rovers are engineered to move across challenging terrain while carrying instruments that help scientists investigate other worlds. Designing a rover involves considering its wheels, structure, mobility, power, controls, and the mission it needs to accomplish—making rover challenges a great way to explore engineering and problem-solving.

As a rocket travels through Earth’s atmosphere, air moves around its structure and creates forces such as drag. Engineers consider a rocket’s shape, stability, speed, and airflow when developing vehicles capable of traveling through the atmosphere on their journey toward space.

Scientists use images, instruments, orbiters, landers, and rovers to investigate rocks, minerals, craters, volcanoes, and other surface features beyond Earth. Planetary geology helps researchers investigate how other worlds formed, how their surfaces changed, and what conditions may have existed in their past.