Everything You Need to Know About Satellites

What are Satellites?

Any object that orbits a planet, star, or moon is considered a satellite. A regular, repeated route that one object in space follows around another is called an orbit. Because Earth circles the Sun, it is a satellite! Because it circles the Earth, the Moon is likewise a satellite. However, a "satellite" is often a device that is sent into space and orbits Earth or another celestial body.

Some examples of natural satellites include the Moon and the Earth. Earth is orbited by thousands of artificial, or man-made, satellites. Some people snap images of the earth to aid meteorologists in weather forecasting and storm tracking. Some capture images of distant galaxies, black holes, the Sun, and other planets. These images aid scientists in their understanding of the solar system and the universe.

Types of Satellites

Geostationary Satellite:

These satellites are orbiting the planet around 35,800 kilometres away from its surface. These satellites spin in the same direction as the planet, and one rotation of them corresponds to one day (approximately 24 hours) on the planet. This implies that these satellites will seem to remain in the same location as viewed from Earth over the whole time. Thus, "geostationary" satellites got their moniker. These satellites serve as weather-based applications and communication satellites.

Polar Satellite:

Unlike geostationary satellites, which orbit the world in an east-west direction, polar satellites orbit the planet in a north-south direction. When a single day's worth of field vision throughout the entire planet is needed, they come in quite handy. This is simple to achieve since the whole earth shifts underneath them. They are used in meteorological applications where quick weather and climate-related hazard prediction is required and serve as relay stations. It is an artificial satellite that may occasionally be seen in clear skies and is inhabited. It serves as a laboratory, an observatory, and a potential landing platform for missions.

Uses of Satellites

GPS and other satellites can observe a lot of the Earth at once because of their vision. As a result, satellites can gather data faster than ground-based devices.

Additionally, satellites have superior vision in space compared to surface-based telescopes! This is so because satellites pass over atmospheric particles including dust, clouds, and molecules that might obstruct a view from the ground.

Additional satellites are utilised for global communications, including TV transmissions and telephone conversations. Have you ever used your phone's map app to try to locate your home or the closest ice cream parlour? With GPS, satellites enable us to achieve this! The GPS, or Global Positioning System, consists of a constellation of more than 20 satellites.
These satellites help to figure out your exact location!

Examples of Satellites

Communications Satellites:

Examples include the Intelsat series, which provides global communication services for television, radio, and the Internet.

Navigation Satellites:

The Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation, operated by the United States, is widely used for precise location and timing services worldwide.

Earth Observation Satellites:

Landsat satellites, managed by NASA and the USGS, monitor Earth's land surfaces for applications in agriculture, forestry, urban planning, and environmental management.

Weather Satellites:

NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) series provide crucial data for weather forecasting and climate monitoring.

Scientific Satellites:

The Hubble Space Telescope, operated by NASA and ESA, has provided stunning images and invaluable scientific data about distant galaxies, stars, and planets.

Military Satellites:

The USA's reconnaissance satellites, such as the KH-11 series, provide intelligence gathering and surveillance capabilities for national security purposes.

Space Telescopes:

Besides Hubble, examples include the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the James Webb Space Telescope, which observe the universe in different wavelengths of light, revealing insights into celestial objects and phenomena.

Satellites, whether natural like the Moon or artificial creations orbiting Earth, play indispensable roles in communication, navigation, weather forecasting, scientific research, and defence. They enable global connectivity, enhance our understanding of the universe, and provide critical data for various applications on Earth. From observing distant galaxies to predicting storms and monitoring climate change, satellites continue to revolutionize our capabilities in space exploration and terrestrial operations. Their versatility and utility make them essential tools in modern technology and scientific advancement.