C is for …
Canopy
A hinged window over a pilot in a jet.
Sentences:
The pilot stayed dry as the rain hit the canopy on his jet.
We could see the pilot wave through the canopy as she flew by.
Canyon
A deep, narrow valley with steep sides that may have a stream flowing through it.
Sentences:
NASA Earth scientists study canyons and how they were made.
Our family went to the Grand Canyon in Arizona during summer vacation.
Related Links:
Grand Canyon in 3-D
The Grand Canyon of Mars
Capsule
A part of a spacecraft that can hold a crew and instruments.
Sentences:
Three astronauts sat in the Apollo capsule as their rocket launched them toward the moon.
Only two astronauts fit in a Gemini capsule.
Only one astronaut fit in a Mercury capsule.
Related Links:
What Was the Apollo Program? (Grades K-4)
What Was the Apollo Program? (Grades 5-8)
What Was the Gemini Program? (Grades K-4)
What Was the Gemini Program? (Grades 5-8)
What Was Project Mercury? (Grades K-4)
What Was Project Mercury? (Grades 5-8)
Cargo
Goods carried on a large vehicle.
Sentences:
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft takes cargo to the International Space Station.
Products like clothing and toys come to the United States on large cargo ships.
Chandra X-ray Observatory
A powerful telescope in space. Chandra can see X-rays that human eyes cannot see.
Sentences:
The Chandra X-ray Observatory is the world’s most powerful X-ray telescope.
The Chandra X-ray Observatory took a picture of a black hole.
Circuit
The complete path of an electric current.
Sentences:
Satellites and the International Space Station’s electrical systems are made up of many, many circuits.
Today, our science class learned how to build an electric circuit.
Climate
The usual weather conditions of a place over a long period of time.
Sentences:
NASA uses many different satellites to study Earth’s climate.
Different parts of the United States can have very different climates.
Related Links:
What Is Climate Change? (Grades K-4)
What is Climate Change (Grades 5-8)
Cloud
A mass of tiny water drops or ice crystals that floats in the air above Earth.
Sentences:
The CERES S’COOL project asks students to help NASA study the different types of clouds.
The clouds blocked the sunlight.
Related Links:
What Are Clouds? (Grades K-4)
What Are Clouds? (Grades 5-8)
Cockpit
The part of an airplane where the pilot sits.
Sentences:
The pilot flies and controls the airplane from the cockpit.
Before our airplane took off, my little sister and I went into the cockpit with the pilot.
Comet
A ball of frozen gases, rock and dust that is about the size of a small town. Comets orbit the sun. Jets of gas and dust from comets form long tails that can be seen from Earth.
Sentences:
NASA sent the Deep Impact spacecraft to crash into a comet and study what it is made of.
Comets are sometimes called “dirty snowballs” because of what they are made of.
Constellation
A group of stars that forms a particular shape in the sky and has been given a name.
Sentences:
Many years ago, people liked to make up stories about the constellations.
You can find the constellation Orion in the night sky by looking for Orion’s belt.
Related Links:
Make a Star Finder
The Orion Constellation
Continent
One of the seven great divisions of land (North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia or Antarctica) on the globe.
Sentences:
Astronauts can see the different continents from the space station.
The seven continents are North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and Antarctica.
Cosmonaut
An astronaut from Russia.
Sentence:
Cosmonauts and astronauts work together on the International Space Station.
Related Links:
Now in Space
