What is a satellite.

A satellite is something that goes around and around a larger something, like the earth or another planet. Some satellites are natural, like the moon, which is a natural satellite of the earth. Other satellites are made by scientists and technologists to go around the earth and do certain jobs.

Some satellites send and receive television signals. The signal is sent from a station on the earth’s surface. The satellite receives the signal and rebroadcasts it to other places on the earth. With the right number of satellites in space, one television program can be seen all over the world.

Some satellites send and receive telephone, fax, and computer communications.
Satellites make it possible to communicate by telephone, fax, Internet, or computer withanyone in the world.

Other satellites observe the world’s weather, feeding weather information into giant
computer programs that help scientists know what the weather will be. The weather
reporters on your favorite TV news show get their information from those scientists.

Still other satellites take very accurate pictures of the earth’s surface, sending back images that tell scientists about changes that are going on around the world and about crops, water, and other resources.

This is one kind of satellite—a Boeing 376, built by Boeing Satellite
Systems. The Boeing 376 is used mostly for broadcast television
and cable television.

This is another, larger kind of satellite—the Boeing 601—
which is also built by Boeing Satellite Systems. The Boeing
601 is used for many purposes, including direct broadcast
TV, such as DIRECTV. Direct broadcast TV is a system for
receiving television using a very small satellite dish. The television
signal is relayed by a Boeing 601 satellite. The Boeing 601 also relays
telephone, fax, and computer communications.


The most powerful commercial satellite in the world is the Boeing 702.
Designed and built by Boeing Satellite Systems, this giant has a
wingspan of nearly 133 feet—more than a Boeing 737 jet plane.