Ages 4 and Up
Listen to a story about many satellites orbiting Earth while its trying to sleep.
Ages 5 and Up
Create your own satellite using craft materials.
Ages 9 and Up
Write your name in the language of computers.
Ever use GPS to get to your favorite pizza place? That’s computers and satellites working together—just like they guide airplanes and even spacecraft.
The technology that helps astronauts in space also powers things like smart speakers and appliances in your house.
Computers control rovers on Mars and satellites that orbit Earth. Without them, we couldn’t learn about planets or stars.
The same ideas that make space tech work also make your phone, tablet, and video games possible. What we use at home is similar to what astronauts use in space.
Satellites in space send data to computers so we can know if it will rain, snow, or be sunny.
Computers aren’t just for playing games—they help scientists solve big problems. You can use coding to create your own cool projects too.
Story Time Video | Ages 4 and Up
Listen to a story about many satellites orbiting Earth while you're trying to sleep. They are talking in all different languages and sending all kinds of information. It's noisy!
Weather satellites take pictures of clouds and measure temperatures from space. They also track storms and wind patterns, sending this data to computers that create forecasts.
Communication satellites bounce signals between places on Earth. This lets people make phone calls, watch live TV, and use the internet—even in remote areas where cables can’t reach.
Earth-observing satellites use cameras and sensors to monitor forests, oceans, and air quality. They can detect pollution, melting ice, and changes in land over time.
Satellites take high-resolution images of disaster areas, like floods or wildfires. These pictures help emergency teams know where to send help and supplies quickly.
Some satellites orbit Earth to study space, while others travel farther to observe planets and stars. They send back pictures and data that teach us about the universe.
Craft | Ages 5 and Up (with Help from a Grownup)
Create your own satellite using craft materials. You'll learn what the parts of the satellite are for.
What You'll Need:
Step 1: Look at the parts of the satellite in the diagram.
A. Housing: Contains science instruments, thermal controls, and the command data center
B. Solar Array: Panels that absorb light to power the satellite
C. Antenna: Gathers and sends information
D. Science Instruments: Sensors and cameras collect information, called data
E. Command/Data Center: Inside the housing, this is where the data is stored and the satellite is controlled from Earth
Step 2: Every satellite has a job! Choose which job your satellite will do:
Step 3: Figure out what materials you want to use for the different parts of the satellite. You will need:
Step 4: Take a piece of paper and build your satellite.
Step 5: Share your creation with a friend or family member. Tell them what your satellite is used for and how it helps people on Earth.
Craft | Ages 9 and Up (With Help from a Grown Up)
Write your name in the language of computers.
What You'll Need:
Step 1: Write your name.
Step 2: Convert your name to binary code.
Step 3: Plan your colors.
Step 4: Cut your strips.
Step 5: Build your chain.
Step 6: Display your code.
Binary code is a computer language made of just 1s and 0s.
When you put lots of 1s and 0s together in a special order, they can represent letters, numbers, pictures, and even games! Binary is how computers talk and understand everything we tell them.
Even the Apollo spacecraft used binary code. The code helped astronauts land on the Moon.
Soar Together at Air and Space is made possible by the generous support of the Northrop Grumman Foundation.