Know the types of satellites that circle the globe and their functions 82u69

After the great milestone that was the launch of the first satellite into orbit in 1957, space technology and freely available live high-resolution satellite imagery developed in a way never anticipated. Currently, there are different types of satellites that orbit the Earth and allow the observation of practically the entire planet, communication, and even scientific development. 706cs

Unconsciously, we increasingly use satellites in our daily lives, which serve to vastly increase our quality of life, well-being, and the achievement of goals in new and innovative ways. And for you to know more about this technology, we made this special article about the types of satellites that circle the globe and their functions. Check it out!

How do satellites work? 3c502d

Everyone knows that launching satellites is only possible through the use of a rocket, which are later placed at different locations, heights and angles around the planet Earth. It is the planet's gravity that helps the satellite to stay in orbit constantly, thus preventing it from wandering through space.

These technological marvels tend to be powered by batteries or solar s, and can even be hybrid powered. To be used in certain tasks, it is possible to add specific equipment such as cameras, telescopes, sensors, and others to the satellites, however, all of them must have an antenna that will allow communication with the Earth. There is also the possibility of creating much more complex satellites, such as constellations composed of several satellites, the International Space Station (International Space Station or ISS, in English), inclusive, fits as such.

How a satellite will work will depend on its purpose. Earth observation satellites, for example, move in various orbits, thus offering various angles and perspectives. The data collected through high resolution satellite images can be used in numerous applications, such as agriculture, rural development and mineral prospecting, among others.

Types of satellite orbits v6s

Artificial satellites are positioned in orbits around the Earth. The choice of this orbit depends not only on the type of satellite used, but also on the purpose of its application. There are three types of orbits in which a satellite will generally be positioned: low earth orbit (LEO), medium earth orbit (MEO) and geosynchronous orbit (GEO).

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) r6m3u

A Low Earth Orbit, also known as LEO (Low Earth Orbit, in English) is an orbit in which the satellite is normatively placed between a height of 500 to 2000 km with speeds of up to 7,3 km/s, having a smaller focus area, sometimes requiring a large amount of satellites in that orbit to cover a large area. This type of orbit is very useful in capture high resolution satellite imagery Returns, as the reduced distance allows for a higher quality of satellite images.

Taking into the average speed of a satellite that is in this orbit, it will take about 90 minutes to complete a complete trip around the Earth, that's why the International Space Station is in this orbit, which facilitates the displacement of astronauts, since the ISS orbits our planet 16 times in just 1 day. To facilitate the coverage of a larger area through this orbit, it is common to form constellations, that is, the use of several satellites, all of them defined with the same purpose, thus creating a “network”, as well as the ISS.

Middle Earth Orbit (MEO) 1iw3c

Moving on to Middle Earth Orbit or MEO (Medium Earth Orbit, in English), sometimes also called Intermediate Circular Orbit (ICO), an orbiting satellite at a higher altitude. A MEO satellite is configured as a satellite positioned between 1000 and 22000 miles and performing a full Earth orbit at least twice a day. The orbits of this type of satellite can vary, being circular or elliptical, however, after being selected, its orbit is constantly maintained.

This type of satellite can provide a wide range of applications, but the biggest market uses are in military and telecommunications industry, being frequently used in GPS.

Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO) l4i20

Last but not least, we have the Geosynchronous Orbits (Geosynchronous Earth Orbit, in English). A satellite in this orbit can also be called a geostationary satellite, which is probably the most well-known, understood, and widely used type of satellite. You geostationary satellites they move at the same speed as planet Earth, and parallel to it, thus appearing to be stationary in the sky, which allows them access to a vast, specific area of ​​the Earth.

The orbit of this type of satellite is usually around 35.000 km (22.000 miles), essentially requiring 24 hours to complete a complete orbit around the planet. Taking into the distance they are and the coverage they have, it is necessary to only three GEO satellites to fully cover planet Earth communications.

O meteorological sector is benefited with a Geosynchronous Orbit, because, in regular time, the satellite collects information about the clouds, the wind, the water and generates indices that are later used in the meteorological forecast. Its near constant location also allows GEO satellites to be used in GPS location of boats and planes and in the area of ​​telecommunications. The study of solar activity is also done through the tools and instruments existing in this type of satellite, which can track the levels of solar radiation in the space around them.

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Want to know more about satellites? find it out how many and which satellites are in orbit.