Definitions for satellites
satel·lites

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. satellites

   A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Satellites have a variety of uses, including communication relay, weather forecasting, navigation (GPS), broadcasting, scientific research, and Earth observation. Additional military uses are reconnaissance, early warning, signals intelligence and, potentially, weapon delivery. Other satellites include the final rocket stages that placed satellites in orbit and formerly useful satellites that are now defunct. Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs). Most satellites also have a method of communication to ground stations, called transponders. Many satellites use a standardized bus to save cost and work, the most popular of which is small CubeSats. Similar satellites can work together as a group, forming constellations. Because of the high launch cost to space, satellites are designed to be as lightweight and robust as possible. Most communication satellites are radio relay stations in orbit and carry dozens of transponders, each with a bandwidth of tens of megahertz. Satellites are placed from the surface to orbit by launch vehicles, high enough to avoid orbital decay by the atmosphere. Satellites can then change or maintain the orbit by propulsion, usually by chemical or ion thrusters. In 2018, about 90% of satellites orbiting Earth are in low Earth orbit or geostationary orbit; geostationary means the satellites stay still at the sky. Some imaging satellites chose a Sun-synchronous orbit because they can scan the entire globe with similar lighting. As the number of satellites and space debris around Earth increases, the threat of collision has become more severe. A small number of satellites orbit other bodies (such as the Moon, Mars, and the Sun) or many bodies at once (two for a halo orbit, three for a Lissajous orbit). Earth observation satellites gather information for reconnaissance, mapping, monitoring the weather, ocean, forest, etc. Space telescopes take advantage of outer space's near perfect vacuum to observe objects with the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Because satellites can see a large portion of the Earth at once, communications satellites can relay information to remote places. The signal delay from satellites and their orbit's predictability are used in satellite navigation systems, such as GPS. Space probes are satellites designed for robotic space exploration outside of Earth, and space stations are in essence crewed satellites. The first artificial satellite to be launched into the Earth's orbit was the Soviet Union's Sputnik 1, on 4 October 1957.

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Satellites

   name given to the secondary bodies which revolve round the planets of the solar system, of which the Earth has one, Mars two, Jupiter four, Saturn eight, Uranus four, and Neptune is known to have at least one, as Venus is surmised to have.

Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. satellites

   Secondary planets or moons, which revolve about some of the primary planets. The moon is a satellite to the earth.

Military Dictionary and GazetteerRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. satellites

   Were certain armed men, of whom mention is made in the history of Philip Augustus, king of France. The satellites of Philip Augustus were men selected from the militia of the country, who fought on foot and horseback. The servants or batmen who attended the military knights when they went into action were likewise called satellites, and fought in their defense mounted or on foot.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. satellites

   Plural form of satellite.

   There are a large number of satellites in orbit around the earth and each have a different function and purpose.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on March 4, 2016  

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. satellites

   Song lyrics by satellites -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by satellites on the Lyrics.com website.

How to pronounce satellites?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say satellites in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of satellites in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of satellites in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of satellites in a Sentence

1. Amelia Carolina Sparavigna:

   Before software and satellites, we had to use traditional maps or plans, obtained after local surveying, and equations to determine the solar [angles] and draw them on maps. In fact, the use of satellites [makes] this work very fast and visually attractive.

2. CLIFFORD VILLALON:

   Different planets, constellations and satellites move around and stay around. People on earth are just the same. That is why life is full of wonders!

3. Richard Branson:

   We plan to put an initial array of 648 satellites up, and if that’s successful, we want to go to 2,400 satellites, the idea is to reach the billions of people who don’t have Internet access and to do so with good quality reception and good prices.

4. Brian Weeden:

   There’s a reason why the military is doing this, a big part of that is they are worried about not only debris collisions with military satellites, but potential adversaries using small space objects to try and attack satellites.

5. Mitchell Burnside Clapp:

   Small satellites in the ALASA payload class represent the fastest-growing segment of the space launch market, dARPA expects this growth trend to continue as small satellites become increasingly more capable.

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