Jakarta, Borneo24.com – A satellite is a moon, planet, or machine that orbits around a planet or star. For example, the moon is a satellite of the earth because the moon orbits around the earth. Earth, as a planet, is also a satellite because it moves around the sun. There are two kinds of satellites, natural satellites and man-made satellites. Examples of natural satellites are the earth and the moon. Meanwhile, man-made satellites are those launched by humans for various purposes.
Man-made satellites can orbit around the Earth because there is a balance with the Earth’s gravity. Each satellite has its own orbital path according to the purpose and function of each satellite. The first man-made satellite was created in 1957 by Russia. The name of this satellite is Sputnik 1. While the first satellite made in the United States was launched in 1958 under the name Explorer 1
It turns out that satellites have an important function for human life. Reporting from NASA, here are the functions of satellites as part of human life.
Looking further into the picture of the earth
Satellites are capable of flying high above the earth’s surface. So satellites are able to see a wider picture of the Earth to understand more about the Earth. Satellites are able to fly high through clouds and molecules in the atmosphere. Through satellites, NASA is able to study the clouds, land, oceans, and ice at Earth’s poles. Satellites are also able to collect information about any gases contained in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide.
This information is very useful and helps researchers to predict the weather and climate. This will help relevant officers to prepare for natural disasters that may occur. Furthermore, this information will be useful for farmers to predict when planting and harvesting time is right. In addition, satellites can also capture images of the world in outer space such as images of other planets, stars, and other celestial bodies. Through information from satellites, NASA can find out if there are signs of life on other planers such as Mars and Venus.
Communication
Satellite has a function to forward telephone communication signals as well as television broadcast signals around the world. Before the existence of satellites, television and communication signals could only be transmitted in a straight line, and could not even pass through tall buildings. However, since the advent of satellites, watching television from another hemisphere and communicating with people who are very far away has become possible.
Determining the location
There are more than 20 satellites that are members of the Global Positioning System (GPS). The satellites will help determine your location through a GPS receiver, such as the one on your cell phone. That’s the function of the satellite for Earth’s life.(***)
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