Types of Satellites

Engineers have developed many kinds of satellites, each designed to serve a specific purpose or mission.

For instance the telecommunications and broadcasting industries use communications satellites to carry radio, television, and telephone signals over long distances without the need for cables or microwave relays. Navigational satellites pinpoint the location of objects on Earth, while weather satellites help meteorologists forecast the weather (see Meteorology). The United States government uses surveillance satellites to monitor military activities (see Remote Sensing). Scientific satellites serve as space-based platforms for observation of Earth, the other planets, the Sun, comets, and galaxies, and are useful in a wide variety of other applications.

Click here for a list of the different types of satellite.