The invention of artificial satellites opened up new opportunities for humanity. We can now communicate with people all over the world, predict natural disasters, and even study space itself. With the advent of Internet, studying artificial satellites became easy and interesting. Today, you do not have to study this issue at university to understand how these objects operate and how they changed human life.
How Are Artificial Satellites Defined
First, you need to know what the artificial satellites are. The term ‘artificial’ means that these satellites were made by humans rather than occurring as the result of any processes. These man-made objects are located far above the Earth and serve different purposes. Some of the satellites help to communicate with people, some facilitate navigation, while others forecast the weather. Moreover, there are those artificial satellites that help scientists to study space. As a rule, most of them are very large but there are artificial satellites which sizes do not exceed shoebox.
Types of Artificial Satellites
As mentioned above, artificial satellites serve different purposes and therefore they are divided into several types. Communication satellites are designed to provide people with the possibility to transmit signal across the globe, while navigation satellites, such as GPS, provide information regarding the location and time. The function of weather satellites is connected with predicting weather patterns and monitoring natural disasters. Scientific satellites make researches related to the atmosphere, ocean and land surfaces of the planet, whereas space exploration satellites study the outer space and celestial bodies, such as the Moon, Mars and asteroids.
How to Study Artificial Satellites Online
Today, everyone has a chance to obtain knowledge about artificial satellites via the Internet. All you need is just to follow several recommendations:
– Find reliable websites which offer useful information on artificial satellites. Some of the most popular include NASA’s website, European Space Agency website and International Telecommunication Union website.
– Sign up for one of the courses on satellite technology and space exploration which are provided by Coursera, edX and Udemy websites.
– Become a member of one of the forums dedicated to artificial satellites, such as r/space and r/satellites of Reddit website.
– Search for documentary films on satellite technology and watch them to enrich your understanding of this topic.
– Read as many books and articles as possible. Some recommended include ‘The Satellite Industry: A Global Perspective’ and ‘Satellites: A Global Perspective’.
Types of Artificial Satellites
There are two main types of artificial satellites: geostationary satellites and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The former are situated at the height of around 36,000 kilometers where they rotate with the speed of the Earth and stay stationary over a certain place on the equator. The latter are positioned at the height between 200 and 800 kilometers. They rotate very quickly.
Geostationary satellites are responsible for communication and navigation. They contain large antennas and transponders which transmit and receive information. LEO satellites are intended for scientific research and exploring outer space. For example, the International Space Station is one of the LEO satellites. It contains a variety of equipment, such as camera, spectrometers and radar systems.
Satellite Launch and Deployment
There are a lot of steps to be taken for artificial satellite to start working. They include satellite design and manufacturing, satellite launch, and finally orbit insertion. The first step presupposes designing and building a satellite by one of the companies, for instance, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Airbus. It should contain necessary equipment, such as power system and transponder.
The next important step is launching the satellite. First, it should be delivered to the launch site and get ready to start. Then, a special rocket is used to deliver it to the orbit. Once in the orbit, satellite is detached from the rocket by using pyrotechnics. It starts functioning according to the plan.
Conclusion
To sum up, nowadays the mankind possesses a great number of artificial satellites which help us to communicate, predict weather and explore outer space. Fortunately, today people have a good chance to study artificial satellites online and understand their role in the human life.
