Satellite: Meaning,

Satellite is a body that orbits or moves round a planet e.g. the moon is a satellite of the earth Thus, the satellites or moons of the planet in our solar system are shown below

PLANET                               NO OF SATELLITE

Mercury                                   None

Venus                                      None

Earth                                       1

Mass                                        2

Jupiter                                     12

Saturn                                      9

Uranus                                     5

Neptune                                  2

Natural And Artificial Satellites

The moons that orbit the planets in the solar system are natural satellites, while artificial satellites are man-made bodies, which were launched by various countries, and now orbit the Earth, e.g.

COUNTRY               YEAR OF FIRST LAUNCH          FIRST SATELLITE

USSR                                      1957                                        Sputnik 1

USA                                        1958                                        Explorer 1

Australia                                  1964                                        Blue streak

France                                     1965                                        Asterix

Japan                                       1970                                        Osumi

China                                       1970                                        Dong fang hang 1

United kingdom                      1971                                        Prospero X-3

India                                        1979                                        Rohini 1

Israel                                       1988                                        Ofeg 1

Nigeria                                    2003                                        SAT 1

EVALUATION

1. Give the meaning of satellite and name two planets with their number of satellites
2. State four examples of countries, year of first launch and the name of satellites launched by them.

Types of Satellite And Their Uses

1. ASTRONOMICAL SATELLITES: They are used for observation of distance plants, galaxies and other outer space objects.
2. BIO SATELLITE:These are used to carry living organism especially for scientific experimentation.
3. OBSERVATION SATELLITE: They are used for geographical studies, photographing of areas, map marking.
4. WEATHER SATELLITES: These are used to monitor the weather conditions in the atmosphere and supply the information to ground stations.
5. COMMUNICATION SATELLITE:They are designed purposely to send information quickly from one place to another.
6. RECONNAISSANCE SATELLITES: They are used for military or intelligence purposes, such as observing enemy location or troop movements.
7. SPACE STATION SATELLITES: They are designed for human being to live on in outer space. They are only designed for periods of weeks, mouths or years.
8. NAVIGATIONAL SATELLITES: These used radio time signals, it enables mobile receivers on the ground to determine their exact location.

EVALUATION

1. What is reconnaissance satellite?
2. Give four examples of satellite and their uses.

GENERAL EVALUATION

1. Give the meaning of satellite and name two planets with their number of satellites.
2. State four examples of countries, year of first launch and the name of satellites launched by them.
3. What is reconnaissance satellite?
4. Give four examples of satellite and their uses.
5. Explain the term satellite and distinguish between natural and artificial satellites.

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. _______ is a body that moves round the planet A. Earth B.  Sun C. Satellite D. Stars.
2. One of the following has the highest number of satellite in the solar system
3. earth B. Saturn C.  venues D.  Jupiter.
4. The following are examples of planet except ____ A. moon B. earth C. mass
5. Jupiter.
6. ___ are used for monitoring the dry and wet season of a particular area
7. Astronomical satellite B. Weather satellite C. Bio satellites D. Communication satellite.
8. Sputnik 1 was launched in 1957 by USSR while SAT 1 was launched in ___ by ___ A. 1970, Japan B. 1958, USA C. 2003, Nigeria D. 1988. Israel.

THEORY

1. Explain the term satellite and distinguish between natural and artificial satellites.
2. Explain how artificial satellites have improved whole world.

See also

THE EARTH IN SPACE

WEIGHTLESSNESS

SPACE TRAVEL

CALCULATION OF GRAVITATIONAL FORCES

FORCES