Satellite | General Awareness & Knowledge - Bank Exams PDF Download

Introduction

Satellites are celestial bodies that orbit around other celestial bodies in space. There are two main categories of satellites: natural and man-made.

Natural Satellites

• Natural satellites are celestial bodies that occur naturally in space.
• Examples include the Earth and the Moon.
• The Earth orbits around the Sun, while the Moon orbits around the Earth.

Man-Made Satellites

• Man-made satellites are machines launched into space to orbit around celestial bodies.
• Examples of man-made satellites include the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station.

Types of Man-Made Satellites

1. Astronomical Satellites

• Purpose: Observing distant planets, stars, galaxies, and objects in the universe.
• Description: Space telescopes like Hubble capture images of celestial objects in space.

2. Biosatellites

• Purpose: Conducting research on the effects of space on living organisms like animals and plants.
• Description: Animals and plants are placed in space to study their behavior and adaptation.

3. Communication Satellites

• Purpose: Support telecommunication services such as telecasting, phone calls, internet connectivity, radio broadcasting, and remote connectivity.
• Impact: Enabling global communication and connectivity.

4. Earth Observation Satellites

• Purpose: Study the environment, monitor climate changes, and create non-military maps of the Earth.
• Impact: Environmental monitoring, disaster management, and resource assessment.

5. Navigation Satellites

• Purpose: Trace the exact location of objects on Earth, leading to the development of new applications and technologies.
• Impact: GPS and navigation services for various sectors.

6. Killer (Military) Satellites

• Purpose: Deployed for offensive actions to attack enemy satellites and space assets during wartime.
• Description: Part of military strategies for space dominance.

7. Space Stations

• Purpose: Designed for human habitation and conducting research on celestial objects.
• Description: International Space Station (ISS) is an example where astronauts live and work in space.

8. Reconnaissance Satellites

• Purpose: Used for spying, surveying, and scouting enemy territory during wartime.
• Impact: Gathering crucial intelligence.

9. Crewed Spacecraft

• Purpose: Transport astronauts to space and back to Earth, facilitating access to space stations.
• Description: Space shuttles and crew capsules are examples.

10. Recovery Satellites

• Purpose: Mainly used to recover bio, reconnaissance, and other satellites back to Earth.
• Description: Ensuring safe retrieval of valuable satellites.

11. Solar Power Satellites

• Purpose: Gather solar energy from the Sun and transmit it to Earth for consumption.
• Impact: Potential clean energy source.

12. Miniaturized Satellites

• Purpose: Smaller and lighter satellites launched at an economical cost for scientific data gathering and radio relay.
• Description: Cost-effective options for specific missions.

13. Tether Satellites

• Purpose: Connected to another satellite by a tether, often used as secondary payloads.
• Description: Utilized in student projects and smaller missions.

14. Weather Satellites

• Purpose: Measure and report Earth's weather conditions, contributing to weather forecasting.
• Impact: Improved weather predictions and disaster management.

Conclusion

• Satellites play a crucial role in various aspects of human life and scientific research.
• Understanding the different types and functions of satellites is essential for appreciating their significance in modern society and space exploration.