Satellites in Orbit

One of the prime factors which boosted telecommunication technology was the launch of artificial satellites in orbit around the Earth. Those silent sentinels keep orbiting the Earth aiding the transmission of signals and performing hundreds of other tasks like remote sensing and provision of meteorological data. A network of satellites around the Earth is the backbone of modern GPS navigation systems that enable usage of GPS tracking devices. In the following lines, you will find information about the different types of satellites that orbit Earth.

How Do Satellites Work?

Any object in a steady orbit around the Earth is a satellite. Man-made satellites, placed in orbit around the Earth, through the use of special launch rockets are called artificial satellites, as opposed to the Moon, which is a natural satellite of the Earth. Using precise calculations made by scientists, a satellite is launched to a certain altitude by a rocket and then launched in the orbit.

The calculations of the altitude and the velocity imparted to the satellite are such that it never falls down and continues to revolve around the Earth like the Moon. The Sputnik satellite, launched in 1957, was the first ever man-made satellite to successfully orbit the Earth. These satellites are equipped with solar panels (for power) and transponders, as well as a mini computers, that manage all their functions.

What is the Total Number of Satellites in Orbit Today?

It has been more than 50 years since the launch of the first satellite and by now more than 50 countries have launched their own satellites. The number of satellites currently in orbit around the Earth is so high, that in coming years, a traffic jam of sorts may occur in space. The United States Space Surveillance Network reports that there are more than 3000 satellites in orbit around Earth! They serve various purposes and move in orbits of varying shape and altitude.

Different Types of Satellites

There are various ways in which satellites may be classified. One way is to classify them according to the kind of orbit they are in (like satellites in geosynchronous orbit which have a low altitude and revolution rate matching with that of the Earth) or the function that they serve.

We choose the latter type of classification. Here are the prime types of satellites in orbit around our planet.

• Weather Satellites: These satellites provide us with detailed photographs of the Earth's surface, which enable weather prediction. They can track all the weather changes on Earth.
• Astronomical Satellites: These are orbiting telescopes like Hubble space telescope that observer distant astronomical objects.
• Communications Satellites: These satellites enable communication between different point on the Earth, providing satellite TV, GPS and satellite phone technology. They are generally placed in low Earth or geosynchronous orbits.
• Earth observation Satellites: These satellites are designed for a unique purpose like study of oceans, minerals or for pure scientific research.
• Space Stations: These are designed to be stations in space where astronauts can actually live and future missions can be launched. One and the only example just now is the International Space Station (ISS).
• Anti-Missile Satellites / Spy Satellites: These satellites are launched for defense purposes and can intercept missile attacks and activate protection for the same by launching missile shields. Some are used for spying on enemy activity across borders.

It is due to the different types of satellites in orbit around the Earth that rapid sharing of information at the speed of light is made possible. Everything from cable TV, your car GPS, meteorological forecasts, defense related monitoring and even the Google Earth data you see on your screen is made available by satellites which are incessantly orbiting the Earth. Thanks to our eyes in the sky, reaching out to any corner of the world is easily possible.