A satellite is an object that orbits around a planet or a star. Per example, the earth is a satellite because it orbits around the sun. So is our moon since it orbits around the earth. When we think of the word ‘satellite’ we often associate it with a machine that is launched and floats around in space.
There are different types of satellites. There are natural and mechanic/ artificially made, satellites. All mechanic satellite are not the same and they come in many various shapes and sizes. But all of them have minimum two main parts in common which are the power source and the antenna. The purpose of the antenna is to receive information. Usually that information is sent from earth eg. phone calls and Tv-signals. When the satellite receive the information, it almost instantaneously send back the information and make it reach a different location on earth. Examples of a power source for a satellite are solar panels or batteries.
As previously mentioned, satellites can be used for various purposes.
Some of them being phone calls and Tv-signals. However, when there’s
a group of >20 satellites they are referred to as the Global Positioning
System, more commonly known as GPS. The GPS is a navigation device that
are used to figure out the exact position you’re looking for. Nowadays
you can find a GPS in your phone, in your car etc.
If you ever wondered how your money get transferred from your bank account
to a cashier’s register after a purchase, I will gladly add to your knowledge
that it’s because of the satellites! When you swipe your card and make a
purchase, a link between your bank and the business from where you are
making the purchase, is established by a satellite.
The first ever artificial satellite to launch into space was a small Russian space probe named Sputnik. It took off on october 4th 1957. Later the same year, november 3rd, another satellite was sent out into space, Sputnik 2. This time it carried a living organism, a dog named Laika. United States sure wanted to join and it became a race between the United States and the Soviet Union after the U.S launched their ‘Explorer 1’, which was a measly 2% of Sputnik 2 and weighed only 13kg.