What kind of scientists study space

Geologists study rocky planets, how they were formed, what they are made of, and how they are changing. In space science, geologists analyze data from instruments on satellites, rovers, and landers. For example, images from orbiting cameras can be used to examine the characteristics of planetary surfaces. Rover-based spectrometers produce data on the composition of rocks.

Heat probes on landers can help determine the structure of planetary interiors. Credit: Laurent Mingo. Mathematicians work on problems related to space science using various branches of mathematics: algebra, geometry, calculus, probabilities and statistics. Their calculations help in the design of spacecraft and advanced computer software.

Meteorologists study the weather in order to make short-term forecasts. They gather information on clouds, radiation, winds, hurricanes, dust, and precipitation from special instruments on board orbiting satellites and from ground-based and airborne observations. Climatology is the study of weather changes over many years. Oceanographers study various aspects of Earth's oceans and seas , including the characteristics of sea water and plants and animal life in the ocean.

They collect and analyze data from Earth observation satellites and other sources in order to conduct research in areas such as sea currents and tides. Credit: CNES. Physics is the study of the general properties of matter, space and time. Physicists seek to establish laws on natural phenomena or formulate theories that explain them.

Physicists are essential to the space program. They observe space using telescopes and instruments that are located on Earth or in space.

Based on their observations, they elaborate or fine-tune theories, design experiments to be conducted, and develop advanced instruments in an effort to better understand our universe. Particle physics, fluid mechanics, plasma physics and optics are some of the sub-disciplines that play an important role in the space program.

Other areas of study include Earth's magnetosphere, the structure and dynamics of the sun, the interplanetary environment, and the physics of materials under weightless conditions. Jeremy Hansen Astronaut. What are black holes? What is dark matter? How do gravitational waves behave? Fields of work: Astronomy, astrophysics, physics. Fields of work: Atmospheric sciences, geology, meteorology. Fields of work: Biology, medicine, nutrition. Dec 5, We're glad to hear this Wonder was helpful to you, Zorn!

Thank you for using Wonderopolis! Nov 4, Mariam Nov 4, It's great to hear this helped you, Mariam! TayeDaBoss10 Oct 24, Oct 25, We're glad to hear you enjoyed this Wonder, TayeDaBoss10! Thanks for commenting.

Shivi Jun 1, Jun 1, Great to hear, Shivi! We're glad this Wonder was helpful! Visit again soon! Natalie May 21, May 24, Carson Shoener May 9, I want to know the author of this wonder of the day for my research paper bibliography.

Thanks for having this though it was very helpful. May 11, Mar 21, Enderpro 13 Mar 9, Thank you for the information on my scientific article.

Mar 11, You're very welcome, Enderpro! Thank YOU for stopping by Wonderopolis to find information! Enderpro 13 Mar 14, Mar 16, Thanks for stopping back by Wonderopolis, Enderpro!

I'm using this for class and its amazing wow helps a lot. Skylar Feb 24, Feb 25, We're glad you liked it, Skylar! Thanks for stopping by Wonderopolis!

James Dec 15, This is cool we are useing this article for class. Dec 16, We hope it is helpful! Nicole Oct 22, Oct 24, Hi, Nicole! That's right! This World explores the many worlds in our solar system! Eria Jan 12, Wonderopolis Jan 14, Leony May 22, Dear wonderopolis Thank you for this wonder it was so cool that there is over a hundred billion galaxies.

I hope that the next wonder is about that do worms sleep? Wonderopolis May 23, We love space. We are reading about the solar system in reading, and we are doing a project on mercury in science.

Enderpro 13 Mar 22, I'm reading about our solar system as well. Mar 23, We hope you're having fun and learning lots of cool information!

Wonderopolis Feb 21, Emily Jan 26, Hi, Wonderopolis. I love going on this website to learn many interesting facts. It is so fun that I have to get on this website more. Keep up the Wonders! Wonderopolis Jan 27, Jake Jan 23, Wonderopolis Jan 23, We are so glad, Jake! I love space and I wish it was possible to travel to other galaxies. I love these facts. I learn so much every time!!!! TONI Jan 23, At first it was hard to get to the website, but when I did it turned out to be really great!

I loved when the video showed the sun having a storm. Thanks for sharing that with me!!! This website is awesome!!!! You are so welcome, Jake! Thank you for the amazing facts about the solar system, and I wish we go to outer space every other days. You are so welcome, Jacob! We wish we could go to space, too! Evan Jan 23, You wonder people must love space. I kinda do. I like penguins more than space, but that is awesome!!! I love Wonderopolis.

I've only seen a few wonders, but I hope there will be more. I inspire everybody to go on Wonderopolis. One question though, why does the reader have such a robot like voice.

Once again everybody keep wondering!!! This was awesome. I learned so much cool stuff. I think Friday's Wonder of the Day is going to be about how cars were invented. Thanks for so much education, and making it so fun. You are so welcome, Wyland! Faith Jan 17, How did the sun blow up? I wonder if the planet Earth will blow up. My guess is that the next video will be about the Earth. Wonderopolis Jan 17, Erin Jan 16, Thank you for showing how to make a happy face other than : now I can show another happy face!

Great video! I am inspired by wonderopolis! Have a good day! Tesa's Class Jan 16, Wonderopolis Jan 16, I'm kelijah or kk. I think the wonder of the day is interesting. Marcie Jan 16, Hey guys! You are so welcome, Marcie! Jayla Jan 16, Trista Jan 16, I liked when the sun exploded, because I like suns.

Tucker Noll Jan 16, We agree with you, Tucker! It certainly is Amazing! Amirra Jan 16, The instruments a NASA electronics engineer designs must be capable of withstanding these conditions. Electronics engineers also need to plan ahead for maintaining the equipment and develop in-depth procedures for safe and effective maintenance practices. In addition to coming up with a design for the equipment, electronics engineers inspect, test and maintain existing electronics for safety and performance.

The federal government employs 13 percent of electronics engineers, the BLS reported. Engineers are problem-solvers — and mechanical engineers are perhaps the most versatile problem-solvers of all.

Mechanical engineering is among the broadest engineering disciplines, encompassing the creation of various kinds of mechanical devices, the BLS reported. Among the wide range of devices mechanical engineers develop are batteries, electric generators, escalators and elevators, engines, conveyor belt systems, medical devices, appliances, tools and turbines. Mechanical engineers use computer technology that analyzes data and simulates machine testing as they build, test and tweak prototypes of their designs to perfection.

The end result is a product that functions precisely as needed to solve the problem at hand. For mechanical engineers, a state-issued Professional Engineering license is beneficial and, in some cases, mandatory, according to the BLS.

When it comes to space exploration, mechanical engineers play an important role. Successful space missions depend on engines, tools, sensors, machines and other equipment that function optimally. With skilled mechanical engineers on the NASA team, the space exploration program can be sure that the equipment they use has been designed with all of the potential space-related challenges in mind. Often, they collaborate with engineers who specialize in other disciplines.

The steering mechanism used on rocket nozzles is just one example of the work mechanical engineers — along with their collaborators in other branches of engineering — do for NASA, according to the BLS.

About six percent of mechanical engineers work in aerospace parts manufacturing roles, according to the BLS. Technicians — engineering professionals who have formal technical training but not an extensive academic education — often work in roles that support the efforts of full-fledged engineers.

Aerospace engineering and operations technicians get their training from a technical school or junior college. To earn ABET accreditation, an aerospace engineering technology degree program must include classes in science, college-level algebra and trigonometry, according to the BLS. In a role at NASA, aerospace engineering and operations technicians assist engineers and scientists with their projects to design, develop and especially test spacecraft.

Aerospace engineering technicians contribute toward building spacecraft by installing the instruments and components engineers design. Technicians also create the conditions necessary to rigorously test spacecraft and the systems they employ. Due to their close involvement in testing spacecraft, aerospace engineering technicians play an important role in the safety and quality assurance. One-third of aerospace engineering technicians work in the industry of aerospace products and parts manufacturing, the BLS reported.

When the complex electronic equipment onboard aircraft and spacecraft needs to be fixed, who works on it? A type of installation, maintenance and repair professional called an avionics technician fulfills this vital job duty. Avionics technicians perform both regular scheduled maintenance procedures and urgent repairs that result from a malfunction or other problem.

Unlike the related roles of aircraft mechanic and repairmen, avionics technicians specialize in maintaining and fixing the electronic systems onboard a plane or spaceship. They work with aircraft and spacecraft equipment such as voltmeters, circuit testers, oscilloscopes, navigation aids, radio communication devices and radar systems, according to the BLS. As part of their testing, avionics technicians need to review flight test data for signs of malfunction. While a role as an avionics technician might not require a comprehensive academic background, it does require strong mechanical skills and a great deal of troubleshooting skills and physical dexterity.

A NASA avionics technician needs to be comfortable working with a variety of tools, ranging from hand tools to power tools and even soldering irons, according to the BLS. About 30 percent of avionics technicians work in the aerospace parts manufacturing industry, and another 11 percent work for the federal government, the BLS reported. Not all jobs with NASA are based in engineering or the sciences.

For example, accountant is one of a number of professional roles needed at NASA. They create many types of financial statements and documents, including income statements, balance sheets, statements of cash flow and statements of changes in equity. An accounting professional must also review financial statements for accuracy, identifying any indicators of intentional fraud or unintentional accounting or mathematical errors.

Accountants may also study various types of accounting and may pursue a concentration in a subject like taxation, financial accounting, cost accounting or management accounting. Accountants play an important role in many types of industries, and a government entity like NASA is no exception. As a large and busy organization, NASA has a lot of financial transactions going on at any given time. There are checks to process, receipts to write up and budget and cost data that someone must keep track of to prevent any inaccuracies in financial recordkeeping.

Accountants are the personnel with the skills and education to organize all of this information into a financial report that captures this information. NASA has an accounting system which is used to keep track of cost and budget data. Accountants who work for NASA may also serve on organizations and committees within the space exploration program in financial roles such as treasurer, NASA reported. About eight percent of accountants work for the government, the BLS reported.

Technical writers play an integral part in NASA communications. They use various formats to distribute this technical information, ranging from journal articles to instruction manuals and how-to guides. Technical writers are sometimes called technical communicators and are responsible for creating imagery and other non-written materials used to communicate technical ideas.

However, technical writers also need knowledge in the technical field they plan to write about, such as medicine or engineering, the BLS reported. The technical writers who work for NASA interact with a variety of scientists and engineers in the course of their job duties. Technical writers research the science they need to write about and speak with the scientist and engineers who designed and developed the product so that they clearly understand what it does and how it works. Then they translate that knowledge into written format.

Some of the work NASA technical writers might create includes operating and assembly instructions for space exploration equipment. Technical writers must break complicated findings about space exploration down into organized chunks of information, and they must develop a style of writing that is clear and specific. Often, the use of imagery can help make the technical space exploration findings discovered by NASA scientists easier to understand.

Public relations specialists are media and communications professionals who cultivate a positive reputation for a company, organization or individual.

In addition to learning public relations theory, students in public relations degree programs will develop a portfolio of the work they have completed over the course of their college education, the BLS reported.