SATELLITES
There are two types of SATELLITES, Natural satellites such as Moons and manufactured 'Artificial satellites'
A satellite is an object that is in orbit around either around any other bigger celestial body such as the Earth being a satellite of our Sun or any artificial satellite in space as everything as far as we know in space is orbit around some other object in space.
German astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571–1630) uses the term ‘satellite’ to describe the moons orbiting Jupiter. He develops the three laws of planetary motion, and his accurate astronomical tables provide evidence for the Copernican heliocentric model.
History of Artificial satellites
The first fictional depictions of satellites being launched into orbit are published in Edward Everett Hale’s short story The Brick Moon (1869) and Jules Verne’s The Begum’s Fortune (1879).
Russian Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (1857–1935) proposes using rocketry to launch spacecraft. He calculates the orbital speed required for a minimal orbit around the Earth at 8 km/s and that a multi-stage rocket fuelled by liquid propellants could be used to achieve this.
Slovenian Herman Potočnik (1892–1929) describes geostationary satellites and communication between them and Earth using radio. He also describes a space station in detail and the use of orbiting spacecraft for detailed observation of the Earth and scientific experiments.
British science fiction writer and inventor Arthur C Clarke (1917–2008) publishes an article that shows how geostationary satellites could be used for worldwide radio and television broadcasts and communication.
1957 – First artificial satellite launched
The first ever Artificial satellite was called Sputnik that was launched into orbit around Earth on 4 October 1957.
First satellite to fly beyond Earth orbit 'Pioneer 4' launched on 3rd March 1959.
Telstar - first communications satellite launched on 10th July 1962
Significant Satellites
Viking 1 and 2 to Mars
Voyager probes to the outer Solar system
Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS)
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Satellites have come a long way since 1957
One of the biggest satellite developments currently is that of massive constellations of Low Earth Orbit(LEO) internet communication satellites, two big systems now being launched into space are OneWeb and Starlink.