Types of Engineers at NASA
Heliophysics
The Sun
Sun, Earth, Moon
Space Science
100

This type of engineer designs and builds spacecraft and satellites that travel beyond Earth.

What is an aerospace engineer?

100

This branch of NASA studies the Sun and how it affects Earth and the solar system.

What is heliophysics?

100

The Sun is mostly made up of these two gases.

What are hydrogen and helium?

100

This happens when the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth, blocking the Sun’s light.

What is a solar eclipse?

100

This is the closest star to Earth.

What is the Sun?

200

These engineers create and test the software that controls spacecraft, rovers, and mission systems.

What is a software engineer?

200

These powerful bursts of energy from the Sun can disrupt satellites and communications on Earth.

What are solar flares?

200

This part of the Sun is its extremely hot center where energy is produced.

What is the core?

200

This region around Earth is controlled by our planet’s magnetic field and protects us from harmful solar radiation.

What is the magnetosphere?

200

This is the term for a rock from space that burns up when it enters Earth’s atmosphere.

What is a meteor?

300

This engineer focuses on designing and maintaining electrical systems, including circuits and power systems on spacecraft.

What is an electrical engineer?

300

This colorful light display near Earth’s poles is caused by interactions between solar particles and our atmosphere.

What are the auroras?

300

The Sun’s powerful gravity keeps these objects moving around it.

What are the planets?

300

This type of energy from the Sun helps plants grow and provides heat and light to Earth.

What is solar energy?

300

This is the vast area that contains all stars, planets, galaxies, and everything in between.

What is space?

400

This type of engineer studies materials and structures to make sure spacecraft can survive extreme temperatures and conditions in space.

What is a materials engineer?

400

This stream of charged particles constantly flows from the Sun and travels throughout the solar system.

What is the solar wind?

400

These dark, cooler spots sometimes seen on the Sun’s surface are caused by magnetic activity.

What are sunspots?

400

It takes about this many days for the Moon to orbit Earth.

What is about 28 days?

400

This is the term for a scientist who studies space, stars, and planets.

What is an astronomer?

500

This type of engineer makes sure spacecraft don’t get too hot or too cold by designing systems that control temperature in space.

What is a thermal engineer?

500

This NASA mission is studying the Sun up close by flying closer to it than any spacecraft before.

What is the Parker Solar Probe?

500

The Sun is located in this galaxy.

What is the Milky Way Galaxy?

500

The Moon shines at night because it reflects light from this object.

What is the Sun?

500

This planet is known for its beautiful rings made of ice and rock.

What is Saturn?