Question

Describe the various types of artificial satellites.

Answer 1

In order to answer the above question, we will understand what we mean by artificial satellites. We will discuss the functions of the satellites. Finally, based on the functions and the uses, we will discuss the different types of artificial satellites in detail.

Complete answer:
As we all know that an artificial satellite is a man-made object that is launched into space by rockets. About a thousand operational satellites orbit the Earth at any given time. The function of a satellite determines its size, altitude, and architecture. Satellites come in a variety of sizes. Some cube satellites are just $10\,cm$ in diameter. Some communication satellites are about $7\,m$ high, with solar panels extending another $50\,m$. The International Space Station is the world’s first artificial satellite (ISS). The main part of this is the size of a five-bedroom home, but when solar panels are added, it’s the size of a rugby field.

Based on the functions they carry out, satellites are categorized as follows:
Navigational Satellites: The GPS (global positioning system) consists of $24$ satellites orbiting at a height of $20000$ kilometres above the Earth's surface. A GPS receiver's exact position on Earth is calculated using the difference in time between signals obtained from four satellites.

Communication Satellites: The Optus D1 satellite, for example, is in a geostationary orbit above the equator and has a coverage footprint that covers all of Australia and New Zealand, and is used for television, phone, and internet transmissions.

Weather Satellites: These are used to photograph clouds as well as to determine temperature and rainfall. Depending on the type of weather satellite, both geostationary and low Earth orbits are used. Weather satellites are used to improve weather forecasting accuracy.

Earth observation Satellites: The Earth is photographed and imaged using these. Low Earth orbits are primarily used to create a more accurate image.

Astronomical Satellites: These are used to keep track of and visualise space. The Hubble Space Telescope, for example, orbits at $600$ kilometres altitude and offers extremely sharp images of stars and distant galaxies. Spitzer and Chandra are two other space telescopes.

International Space Stations (ISS): This is a habitable space station. The International Space Station (ISS) orbits the Earth every $92$ minutes at a speed of $28000$ kilometres per hour from a height of $400$ kilometres. In a microgravity environment, scientists aboard the International Space Station will conduct a variety of useful experiments.

Therefore, according to the functionality and usage, we have six different types of artificial satellites.

Note: It is very important to note that artificial satellites are man-made satellites. If we consider only the natural satellites, then natural satellites are anything that can orbit around in space. It can consist of sun, star, planets, moon, meteors etc. There are many useful aspects of the man-made satellites or the artificial satellites as they are the most important mode of communication and are also responsible for weather forecasting.