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FACTS ABOUT: satellites satellite

Definition: satellite  Play satellitepronunciation  A satellite is a spacecraft that is sent into orbit around a planet or other
heavenly body to gather or send back information.

Fun Facts


1. Two Types of Satellites: A satellite is any object that orbits—or circles around—a larger object in space. There are natural satellites (like the Moon, which orbits Earth) and artificial satellites (human-made machines launched into space by rockets).


2. Thousands in Orbit: There are thousands of active artificial satellites spinning around Earth right now! They do all sorts of important jobs, from helping us talk on cell phones and watch TV to tracking the weather.


3. The First Space Pioneer: The very first human-made satellite was launched into space by the Soviet Union in 1957. It was called Sputnik 1, and it was about the size of a beach ball and beeped like a clock as it orbited Earth!


4. GPS Superpowers: Ever wonder how maps on a smartphone know exactly where you are? A whole network of GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites hovering high above Earth beams signals down to your device to pinpoint your location in seconds.


5. Extreme Speed: To stay up in space and not fall back down to Earth, satellites have to travel at mind-boggling speeds. Most satellites orbit our planet at about 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 kilometers per hour)—fast enough to fly around the entire Earth in just 90 minutes!


6. Powered by the Sun: Most satellites don't use gas or batteries that run out. Instead, they have giant solar panels that catch the bright light of the sun and turn it into electricity to power their computers and cameras.


7. The Ultimate Space Station: The International Space Station (ISS) is the biggest artificial satellite ever built. It is a massive laboratory floating in space where astronauts from different countries live, work, and do science experiments while orbiting Earth.