SATELLITES
By Sabrina Dong 8L
A satellite is a moon, planet or machine that orbits a planet or star. For example, our Earth is satellite because it orbits the Sun. Likewise; the moon is a satellite because it orbits the Earth. There are two types of satellite; one is an artificial machine that is launched into the space to orbit our Earth and other planets, the other is a natural satellite like the moon and the Earth. The bird’s eye-view that satellites have allows them to see large areas of Earth at one time. With this advantage it means satellites can collect more data, more quickly than any other instrument on the ground.
They are also able to view into space better than the telescopes at Earth’s surface, which is because satellites can fly above the clouds, dust and molecules in the atmosphere that block the view from ground level.
When satellites never existed, our television signals couldn't go very far at all. TV signals can only travel in straight lines, so they would quickly get lost into space instead of following the Earth’s curve. But now today, with satellites, TV signals and phone calls are sent upwards to a satellite and then immediately send them back down to different locations on Earth.
Satellites are so important, without them you aren't able to watch hundreds of television channels, make long distance calls, find your way out when you are lost in the streets (no GPS signal) and we would have hardly any useful information for the scientists and researchers to study and look at.
WHAT ARE SATELLITES ?
WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR?
