On Oct. 4, 1957, the Soviets launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, into space. Four years later on April 12, 1961, Russian Lt. Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth in Vostok 1. There are numerous types of space technology used to explore the solar system. They are used to explore planets, moons, asteroids, and comets within the solar system. These include fly-bys, orbiters, landers, and rovers. Types of Satellites and Their Orbits Since the first artificial Earth satellite was launched more than 50 years ago, thousands of artificial satellites have been put... Show more On Oct. 4, 1957, the Soviets launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, into space. Four years later on April 12, 1961, Russian Lt. Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth in Vostok 1. There are numerous types of space technology used to explore the solar system. They are used to explore planets, moons, asteroids, and comets within the solar system. These include fly-bys, orbiters, landers, and rovers. Types of Satellites and Their Orbits Since the first artificial Earth satellite was launched more than 50 years ago, thousands of artificial satellites have been put into orbit around our planet. We have even put satellites into orbit around the Moon, the Sun, and several other planets. Depending on their purpose, there are four main types of satellites: imaging satellites, communications satellites, navigational satellites, and the International Space Station. - Imaging satellites take pictures of Earth’s surface that are used for military or scientific purposes. For example, meteorologists use imaging satellites to study Earth’s weather. Astronomers use them to study the Moon and other planets. - Communications satellites are designed to receive and send signals for telephone, television, or other types of communications. - Navigational satellites are used for navigation systems, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS). - The International Space Station (ISS), the largest artificial satellite, allows humans to live in space while conducting scientific research. The speed of a satellite depends on how high it is above Earth’s surface. Satellites that are relatively close to Earth are said to be in low-Earth orbit (LEO). Satellites in LEO are often in polar orbit. This means that they travel over the North and South Poles and move in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of Earth’s rotation. Because Earth rotates beneath a polar-orbit satellite, the satellite is over a different part of Earth’s surface each time it circles the planet. Imaging satellites and weather satellites are often put in low-Earth, polar orbits. A satellite placed at just the right distance above Earth—35,786 km (22,240 miles)—orbits Earth at the same rate of speed that Earth spins on its axis. When such a satellite orbits Earth in the same direction as Earth’s rotation, it is always over the same position on Earth’s surface. This type of orbit is called a geostationary orbit (GEO). Many communications satellites are in geostationary orbits. Show less
On Oct. 4, 1957, the Soviets launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, into space. Four years later on April 12, 1961, Russian Lt. Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth in Vostok 1. There are numerous types of space technology used to explore the solar system. They are used to explore planets, moons, asteroids, and comets within the solar system. These include fly-bys, orbiters, landers, and rovers.
Types of Satellites and Their Orbits Since the first artificial Earth satellite was launched more than 50 years ago, thousands of artificial satellites have been put into orbit around our planet. We have even put satellites into orbit around the Moon, the Sun, and several other planets. Depending on their purpose, there are four main types of satellites: imaging satellites, communications satellites, navigational satellites, and the International Space Station. - Imaging satellites take pictures of Earth’s surface that are used for military or scientific purposes. For example, meteorologists use imaging satellites to study Earth’s weather. Astronomers use them to study the Moon and other planets. - Communications satellites are designed to receive and send signals for telephone, television, or other types of communications. - Navigational satellites are used for navigation systems, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS). - The International Space Station (ISS), the largest artificial satellite, allows humans to live in space while conducting scientific research. The speed of a satellite depends on how high it is above Earth’s surface. Satellites that are relatively close to Earth are said to be in low-Earth orbit (LEO). Satellites in LEO are often in polar orbit. This means that they travel over the North and South Poles and move in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of Earth’s rotation.
Because Earth rotates beneath a polar-orbit satellite, the satellite is over a different part of Earth’s surface each time it circles the planet. Imaging satellites and weather satellites are often put in low-Earth, polar orbits.
A satellite placed at just the right distance above Earth—35,786 km (22,240 miles)—orbits Earth at the same rate of speed that Earth spins on its axis. When such a satellite orbits Earth in the same direction as Earth’s rotation, it is always over the same position on Earth’s surface. This type of orbit is called a geostationary orbit (GEO). Many communications satellites are in geostationary orbits.
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