Satellites are objects that orbit around larger celestial bodies, like the Earth, and come in two main types: natural and artificial.
- Natural Satellites: These are naturally occurring bodies like moons. Earth's only natural satellite is the Moon, which orbits due to Earth's gravitational pull.
- Artificial Satellites: These are man-made and are launched into space for various purposes. Since the launch of Sputnik 1 by the Soviet Union in 1957, thousands of artificial satellites have been deployed. They perform a variety of functions, including:
Communication: Enabling global communications (e.g., internet, television, and phone services).
Navigation: GPS satellites help in location tracking and navigation.
Earth Observation: Satellites monitor weather, climate changes, natural disasters, and environmental patterns.
Astronomical Observation: Telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope observe distant celestial bodies and contribute to scientific knowledge.
Military and Intelligence: Used for surveillance, reconnaissance, and defense purposes.
Satellites operate at different altitudes:
Low Earth Orbit (LEO): Closest to Earth, commonly used for Earth observation and some communications satellites.
Medium Earth Orbit (MEO): Mainly used by navigation satellites like GPS.
Geostationary Orbit (GEO): Positioned to remain fixed over one point on Earth, ideal for weather and communication satellites.
They are essential for modern infrastructure, impacting daily life, science, security, and our understanding of Earth and space.
