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Artificial Satelite

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Satellites have been in existence since the emergence of planetary bodies. Most planets have their own satellites, but these are all-natural, created by the cosmic effect of the universe, or God as religious individuals call it. These natural satellites are really huge, capable of harboring entire civilizations, and of spherical shape.

Thanks to the effect of gravity in space. They rotate around their host planets, through an orbit. Though it would be fascinating to discuss these natural satellites, let’s leave that part to the astronomers. Our major focus would be the artificial satellites, what they are, and their various purposes. So let’s move on. Let’s start with the most obvious question

What Is a satellite?

A satellite is a spherical heavenly body rotating freely around a bigger body in space, through a fixed part way called an orbit. An example of this is clearly the relationship between the Earth and its singular moon. Satellites could be more than one, it just depends on the planetary body in question. This ferries us to our main event.

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What Is an Artificial Satellite?

The first thing one would most likely bear in mind is that these artificial satellites are totally man-made and could be any shape, unlike their spherical natural counterparts. An artificial satellite would be best defined as a man-made object, placed in orbit, rotating around the Earth to fulfill a specific purpose beneficial to man. Artificial satellites can be placed in orbit according to their functions, and these functions determine the altitudes they achieve in space.

Generally, altitudes are grouped in three variations. The LEO (Low Earth Orbit), the Middle Earth Orbit, and GEO (Geostationary Orbit). Artificial satellites vary in size. In fact, their designs are based on taxes they were launched to perform. Some satellites are as small as basketball balls, while others could be as large as buildings. Huge satellites are known to reach as much as 7 meters in length with light energy trapping structures extending almost 50 meters. It’s quite huge but like a pin compared to the moon.

Types OF Artificial Satellite

There are different types of artificial satellites with different purposes.

LEO

These are low-altitude satellites that rotate around the earth at a distance of roughly 200-2000 kilometers away from the Earth’s surface. They are known to make a complete orbit in about 90 minutes, the time it takes a football match to be complete. Most satellites within this distance limit need to be closer to Earth for specific reasons. For instance, satellites that take pictures of the Earth’s surface are designed to maintain this distance in order to get a clear shot. The International Space Station, orbits within this range, as this provides it with an optimum region to perform experiments in space and at the same time, reduce the fuel cost and travel distance required to deliver cargo to the station. Talk of killing two birds with one stone.

The middle Earth orbiters

These satellites are designed to maintain a middle-range altitude of about 20,000 kilometers away from the Earth’s surface. These satellites are usually placed in this orbit to maintain a 12 hours rotation around the Earth. They are usually unmanned and relay all information acquired, to the stations on the Earth below. A good example of this would be a GPS satellite.

GEO

These satellites are the most distant of all. They maintain a distance of roughly 36,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. These artificial satellites were designed to achieve a complete orbital part in 24 hours. A satellite like this was designed to focus on a particular spot or region it was designed to observe.

Parts Of A Satellite

Like every machine put together, whether in space or on Earth, artificial satellites have various regions which are designed to perform specific duties and help the satellite function properly. We would like to begin from…

Power core

As the name suggests, this is the powerhouse of a satellite. Artificial satellites make use of nuclear reactors or light panels as this is highly economical to keep a body functional for such a long time. These power cores provide the energy source required to keep all systems functioning.

Antenna

Is more or less the beacon of communication between the satellites and the base on Earth. All information gathered by artificial satellites uses this medium to engage in communication with Earth through various streams of waves.

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Altitude control systems

These are systems made up of tiny rockets, particles, and light sensors too, which are useful in re-adjusting the altitude distance of a satellite and determining its direction after it has been placed in orbit. Once placed in orbit, a satellite has no need for rocket propulsion anymore, it rotates freely around the Earth due to gravity. But sometimes the need to adjust orbit occurs, this is where altitude adjustment rockets crawl in

Thermal control system

Space is a near-vacuum, with nothing to absorb heat from the region around the satellites. Continuous light rays from the sun and heat from system operations, channels enormous heat energy. Therefore, heat monitoring, radiation, and reflective systems are designed in the satellite to help regulate heat and prevent destruction.

Information collecting system

Artificial satellites were mounted for the purpose of space research and studies. To fulfill this aim, it should be fused with structures that make this possible. Long scan and high-focus cameras working simultaneously with particle detectors make this a possibility. The information is then stored in a database and relayed back to Earth.

Satellites And Their Functions

Artificial satellites have been really useful in helping us understand space and the world beyond. As of today, thousands of satellites belonging to various countries orbit Earth and play major roles in research and space discoveries. We can’t touch all, but we will list a few.

International space station

This is a space station where countries of the world conduct experiments in space and monitor some astronomical occurrences. It is the biggest satellite in space, as large as a family house with solar panels roughly the size of a football field.

Communication satellites

These are satellites that make a transmission, for television, radios, cellphones, and the internet possible. They are GEO satellites.

Weather satellites

Weather satellites measure cloud changes from space and use those details to determine the weather of a geographical region. They are of two types. The GEO and LEO weather satellites.

Navigation satellites

These are GPS satellites, and they are usually made up of a total of 24 satellites. They maintain the middle Earth orbit, at a distance of 20 kilometers from Earth’s surface. The difference in time for signals received by four satellites determines the point of a GPS receiver on Earth

Astronomical satellites

These are satellites with good telescopic and photographic capabilities. An example of this would be the Hubble space telescope with the ability to take clear photos of distant solar systems and even galaxies. They orbit within the low Earth orbit

Conclusion

Satellites have gone a long way from Sputnik 1, the first satellite to ever be launched. It was Russian and it proved to us that an artificial satellite was indeed a possibility. With what we know currently, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to think that someday, we may be able to mount satellites further into our galaxies for better information analysis. This would indeed be highly beneficial. Hope you learned a thing or two.

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