Satellites are objects, either man-made or natural, that orbit larger bodies in space. Natural satellites, like Earth’s Moon, have existed naturally. However, artificial satellites are human-made objects launched into space to serve various functions, including communications, weather monitoring, navigation, scientific research, and Earth observation. Since the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, by the Soviet Union in 1957, thousands of satellites have been launched by governments and private enterprises around the world. These satellites play a crucial role in our daily lives, enabling global communications, television broadcasting, weather forecasting, disaster management, and GPS systems. They orbit at various altitudes and trajectories, from a few hundred kilometers above Earth in low Earth orbit to geostationary orbits 35,786 kilometers above the Equator, where they rotate synchronously with the Earth’s rotation.
New research has unraveled the complex dynamics of the planetary boundary layer, enhancing satellite detection of atmospheric pollutants and aiding environmental management and climate modeling…
A new review details advancements in thermal management technologies for spacecraft, essential for improving the reliability and performance of space missions. A new review examines…
When internet-providing satellites — now being launched by the thousands — reach the end of their service life, the remnants from their incineration in Earth’s…
Following the strongest solar storm in twenty years, NASA’s ICESat-2 satellite was put into a safe hold on May 10 due to atmospheric drag from…
Cube satellites with AI are revolutionizing bushfire detection in Australia by processing imagery from space quickly and efficiently. The technology is set to be operational…
Quantum cryptography enables secure communication over large distances. How can we guarantee that data sent over the internet is only accessible to its intended recipient?…
Life is indeed possible on Earth. This has been demonstrated in a study conducted by the Institute of Particle Physics and Astrophysics at ETH Zurich….
Measuring the precise quantity of rainfall in a particular area is straightforward when there is equipment specifically designed to accurately capture and relay precipitation data….
Declassified images have led to the identification of 396 forts stretching between Syria and Iraq. Two thousand years ago, the Roman Empire erected forts across…
High-energy ‘relativistic’ electrons, often called “killer” electrons, are a major source of radiation damage to satellites so understanding their patterns of activity is crucial. Solar…
According to researchers at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, new understandings of “space waves” could lead to more precise space weather forecasts and safer navigation for satellites…
The reduced atmosphere in the upper atmosphere will increase satellites’ risk of collision with space pollution. According to a recent study from the British Antarctic…
Plasma-based rocket designed for deep space exploration lasts longer and generates high power. The increased interest in deep-space travel has necessitated the development of powerful,…
Brent Minchew leads two proposals to better understand glacial physics and predict sea-level rise as part of MIT’s Climate Grand Challenges competition. When we think…
Aerospace engineers are developing technology to repair and refuel broken satellites in space. When satellites break, which is surprisingly often, there isn’t much you can…
Aviation Week & Space Technology is bestowing a prestigious Laureate award on NASA’s pair of briefcase-size Mars Cube One spacecraft. Known as MarCO, they’re the…
The Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission captured the multiple bushfires burning across Australia’s east coast. Around 150 fires are still burning in New South Wales and Queensland,…
The space race between the US and Russia ended half a century ago when US astronauts became the first to walk on the moon. Today…