Monday, March 26, 2012

Satellite Technology: Providing Convenience in the Modern World

Satellites are mainly used in communications. They revolve around the earth, receiving and relaying signals from different location points. Without them, the world might not be enjoying ease in communicating.

The first satellite was used for astronomical purposes. Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, has been launched to collect and send important data through radio signals about the situation of the earth's atmosphere, the ionosphere, and the earth's orbital changes. Presently, astronomical satellites are used to capture images outside the earth's surface using different sensors like x-rays, gamma rays, infrared, and ultraviolet. In fact, the most popular and the most powerful telescope today, the Hubble Space telescope, is actually a satellite.

Satellites are also used in identifying weather conditions in different parts of the earth. They collect and send information about cloud formations and cloud movements. Weather satellites have been used for several decades. Without them, people might still be relying on primitive methods in identifying weather conditions. These satellites are also used in capturing information on ocean currents, storms, fires, and volcanic activities.

Military communication and intelligence gathering depend on satellites. With satellite technology, global connectivity is achieved even though military men are located in remote areas. Military satellites are also used as observation satellites deployed to spy and capture images of different locations around the globe.

Without high-technology satellites, there might be no navigation systems that will be used today. Global positioning systems (GPS) that are being used by the military and the civilians alike are dependent on the information sent by the satellites. The GPS is initially intended to be used for military purposes, but it was eventually introduced to consumers for different applications. These satellites have circuit boards with high aspect ratio holes to send accurate images and data to GPS users.

Television systems also depend on the power of satellites. Geostationary satellites are made with high frequency materials so that they can send videos and images to television users in numerous locations. The invention of these satellites made it possible for the television industry to achieve significant growth. They seem stationary, but they actually rotate with the earth. They are seemingly stationary so that they can send data to fixed antennas more efficiently.

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