See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.
net/publication/331634427
Satellite
Preprint · March 2019
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.18871.09129
CITATIONS READS
0 23,962
1 author:
Lakhindra Kumar
Kathmandu University
6 PUBLICATIONS 14 CITATIONS
SEE PROFILE
All content following this page was uploaded by Lakhindra Kumar on 09 March 2019.
The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.
Introduction
What is a Satellite?
Any Space body or object may natural or manmade revolving in the space around another bigger body or
object with a fix path like circular or elliptical or not is said to be a satellite. The Natural revolving body or
objects are known as Natural satellite as the Moon for the Earth and the Earth for Sun, while man made
body or object are known as Artificial satellite as telecommunication satellite, earth observing satellites,
ISS (International Space Station) and many more. Basically, on our world satellite is a machine (Electronic
machine) which is launched from our Earth to Space (out of our Earth Environment).
The World most first artificial satellite was launched on 4th Oct. 1957 by the Soviet Union, Sputnik -1 and
till 2018 there is launched more than 8,100 satellites from more than 40 different countries. And now most
of these are in working condition while some of them are not in use. Most of them are orbiting around the
Earth while some of them are out of earth Gravitational field and these are on Mars, moon, and other planets
orbits.
Figure -1 Artificial Satellites around the Earth.
Why is Satellites being more important for us?
Now-a-day Satellite become a most important machine on human life to any work on the Earth. We use
mobile Phone which is just a camera and audio video player if our phone is not connected with any networks
which may GSM, CDMA, or Wi-Fi or any others and these GSM, CDMA and Wi-Fi work with the help of
communication satellite. We use MAP on our mobile phone (GPS) this is also work with the help of Satellite
which is continuously revolving around the Earth.
The TV which we use is also operate with satellites. There are many fields where satellites are used. Some
basic fields where satellite uses are as follows
• Communication purposes
• Imaging purposes
• Missile controlling purposes
• Military Use (Military satellite)
• GPS (Navigation Satellites)
• For monitoring in forest
• Research purposes in zero gravity (Space Lab, Scientific satellite)
• Earth Monitoring (earth observing satellites
• Aircraft and Ship tracking (future)
• Data collection
• Sample collection from other planets or other space body
• Satellite for spy
• Scope Purposes (Telescope Satellites)
• Space tour
• Weather satellites
• Broadcast satellites
• Rescue satellites
This 21st century we are trying to find out a new space object like Earth where we can have the same
environment as Earth so that Life can survive there. For these purposes there also need of satellite.
What is the basic working principle of a satellite?
There is one basic principle on which any satellites are working is that ‘If any space object speed is counter
balance with other bigger space object then it starts orbiting the bigger object.’ This is for its path and orbits.
In any satellite there are two main components i.e. Power and Antenna. It used to receive or get data from
internal or external and used to transmit these data to server or ground station where these data being
monitoring. In power section there may be battery or solar power and in antenna section there is receiver
and transmitter. There is also a third component i.e. payload, this payload may any things for what purposes
the satellite is being launching. Payload depends on the purposes of satellites. Like some time camera is as
payload when we need to take Images of any things. Some time it may Telescope when we need to have
taken images of other space body and image of other object is very far away for Earth, Solar System and
Universe. Sometime also scientific sensors for research purposes.
If we talk about satellites shape and size then the size and shape of satellite can be any. In past day we used
to launch bigger satellite but now-a-day the work of their bigger satellite can be done by using s very small
satellites like of size 1PQ i.e. 5cm X 5 cm X 5 cm. Satellite is already an advance technique, but we are
doing more advance in satellite technology.
How satellite is launched and orbit around the Earth?
Satellites are mostly launched by space vehicle or rocket. When the speed of satellites and the pull earth
gravity are counterbalanced satellites start orbiting the earth otherwise it can go straight in space or fall
toward the earth. Satellites are in different orbit and different speed with different direction and height.
There are many two orbits on which satellites are used to follow i.e. geostationary and polar orbits.
Who used to launch these satellites and for whom?
There are many governments and private companies which used to launch these satellites in space.
These companies launch these satellites for their own and also for others countries and other
companies who do not have developed yet space technology or for some other reasons. Following
are some space companies which are most popular in the World.
S. Companies and Agencies. Country of Founded Owner
N location on
1. Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Canada 1989 Gov.
2. China National Space Administration (CNSA) China 1993 Gov.
3. European Space Agency (ESA) Europe 1975 Gov.
4. German Aerospace Center (DLR) Germany 1969 Gov.
5. Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) India 1969 Gov.
6. Italian Space Agency (ISA) Italy 1988 Gov.
7. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Japan 1993 Gov.
8. National Aeronautics and Space America 1958 Gov.
Administration (NASA)
9. National Center for Space Studies. France 1961 Gov.
10 Russian Federal space Agency (Roscosmos) Russia 1992 Gov.
11 SpaceX America 2002 Pvt.
Table -1 Most Popular space Agencies.
Most of the countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Malaysia, Pakistan, and other who are not yet developed
for space mission they used to launch their satellites by other space agencies.
View publication stats
