This was my first presentation, created for NOAA's "Bring your Kids to Work Day" in 2008. When you open it, view it in presentation mode, as I added lots of animation. Enjoy!!

1. 1
“Satellite 101”
Ed Rodriguez
Systems Engineer – GOES Project
MOST Team
SGT, Inc.
Email: erodriguez@sgt-inc.com
Welcome!

2. 2
What is a Satellite?
• A satellite is an object that revolves around another object in a path
called an orbit.
• The term “Satellite” refers to either celestial (space) objects like our moon, the
Sun, or man-made objects like the Space Shuttle or weather satellites.
• This presentation will focus mainly on (but not limited to) man-made satellites
3 Astronauts and a difficult
satellite to grab!
Bruce McCandless: First Shuttle
Deployed Human Satellite (1984)
• Question: Can a Human Being be considered a satellite?
Question: Who
was the first
“Tethered”
Human
Satellite?
Astronaut Ed White
Gemini 4 June 3rd
1965
Russian Cosmonaut
Alexei Leonov
Voskhod 2 March 18th
1965

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Launch into Space
• Satellites are launched into space by the Space Shuttle or an Expendable Launch Vehicle
(ELV) such as the Delta Rocket or Pegasus Launch Vehicle
• The weight of the satellite and required orbit altitude determines what type of launch
vehicle to use
• It’s the only way to get into orbit!

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Launch Profile
• …3…2…1…Ignition – We have liftoff!!
• Rockets have to overcome Earth’s gravity to get satellites into orbit – Speed is
key!
• When launching a spacecraft into orbit, the “dogleg” pattern seen is a guided,
powered turn to get it into its required orbit and proper inclination…
• Did you know? It only takes about 8 minutes to get into space…?

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I’m in Orbit now…
• What is an orbit? An orbit is defined as one complete revolution of a body in a circular path
• During the ascent phase of one particular mission, when the rocket is at around Launch plus 7 minutes
(L+7), the rocket’s altitude is 97.4 miles, downrange distance is 1,280 miles from the launch pad, and the
velocity is at 15,700 miles per hour!
• A low Earth satellite’s orbit velocity is 17,500 miles per hour – That means it takes 90 minutes to go
around the Earth once!
• Our Earth orbits around the Sun, our human-made Satellites orbit around the Earth, as well as other
planets such as Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and beyond…
• Question…How many human-made satellites from the early 1970’s have traveled beyond our Solar
System? Hint: 1st
Star Trek Movie
– Voyager 1 and 2
• Types of Orbits
– Polar, Equatorial
– Geostationary
– Low Earth orbit
– Medium Earth Orbit (GPS)
– Eliptical
• Molniya (Russian)
• Tundra (Satellite Radio)
• Did you know? All (US) Polar orbiting satellites are launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in
California, while all Equatorial orbiting satellites are launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida

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Different Orbit Types
Polar Orbit, Low Earth
150 Mile Altitude
Geostationary, Equatorial Orbit
22,500 Mile Altitude
Equatorial Orbit Ground Track Polar Orbit Ground Track

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Why do we need Satellites?
• Satellites provide us with a view from a different perspective – Space!
• Remote Sensing – Continuous viewing and study of Earth (or planets) from orbit! (Mars
Missions)
• New major road construction projects – Over time, terrain changes
• Communications and TV – Sports games like the Olympics broadcast into your living room
• Keep us out of traffic – Different route option (If you have GPS in your car to help you!)
• Study global changes – Phenomenon like El Nino, La Nina
• Track large ice chunks breaking off of Antarctica - Do penguins want to ride north on these?
• Allow us to explore the Earth and the planets of our Solar System
• Keeps me in business, and it’s fun to tell you all a little about our line of work!! 

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Types of Satellites
• Scientific – Earth and Space Sciences
– Earth: Study of water, terrain and atmospheric properties:
– Space: Study of other planets in our solar system and the Sun
• Weather
– Storm prediction and direction
• Communications
• Navigation Satellites or Global Positioning Satellites (GPS)
• Military
– Spy and Reconnaissance satellites serve our troops
• Search and Rescue (SARSAT)
– Help save lives by watching for emergency beacons for aircraft, boats and ground
personnel in distress
• Amateur Radio
– HAM Radio operators use them to speak with people around the world (and the Space
Shuttle astronauts too!)
• Satellite Radio (Sirius/XM)

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Benefits of Satellites
• Provide the U.S./world with potential life saving information when strong storms
or other natural disasters hit us (Hurricanes, Tornados, Forest Fires).
• Provide historical data to compare against in the future
• Satellite TV (Direct TV)/Internet
• Worldwide communication via phone or Instant Messenger
• Spin-off Technologies (Solar Power), GPS Receivers in your car help get you to
your destination by simply typing in an address – Don’t forget Map updates!
• Satellite Radio (no commercials, high definition radio)
• Provide vital intelligence information for our Military leaders and planners

10. 10
Sumatra Tsunami Damage
Sumatra 1/10/03 Sumatra 12/29/04
Tsunami’s are caused when earthquakes occur in the
ocean. The earthquake that caused this tsunami had a
magnitude of 9.3. Unfortunately, this tsunami hit Sumatra,
Indonesia by surprise causing the loss of 220,000 lives

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• This killer weather system was first detected over the tropical Atlantic on August 27. While the history of
the track and intensity is not fully known, the system reached Cuba as a tropical storm on September 3
and moved into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on the 5th. By the time the storm reached the Texas coast
south of Galveston late on September 8, it was a Category 4 hurricane
• This hurricane was the deadliest weather disaster in United States history.
Storm tides of 8 to 15 ft inundated the whole of Galveston Island, as well as other portions of the nearby
Texas coast. These tides were largely responsible for the 8,000 deaths (estimates range from 6,000 to
12,000) attributed to the storm. The damage to property was estimated at $30 million
Galveston,TX Hurricane 1900

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Hurricane Katrina
• Can you imagine what would have happened in the Gulf states if we didn’t have weather
satellites to warn us of such a destructive storm?
• Some decided to stay and “tough it out”…unfortunately a lot of people perished because
they didn’t think the storm was going to be “that bad”
• At least 1,836 people lost their lives in Hurricane Katrina and in the subsequent floods,
making it the deadliest U.S. hurricane since the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane. This was the
costliest natural disaster - $81.2 Billion
• Let’s take a look now at a NOAA time-lapsed video of Hurricane Katrina…

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Tornados and Stormy Weather
• Rough weather headed your way? Stay Informed! RED means DANGER!
Keep informed about current weather via the Internet or TV, check to see if you
have an evacuation plan in place with your family!

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Interested in Learning More?
• There’s lots of cool stuff out there to learn more about satellites, Flight and space!
• The Internet:
– http://science.nasa.gov/Realtime/JTrack
– http://www.noaa.gov
– http://digitalglobe.com
– http://intellicast.com
– http://www.spaceweather.com
– http://www.nasa.gov
• GOOGLE Search any “Keyword” (i.e. NASA, Astronauts, Apollo, Moon, Mars, The Sun, etc.)
• The Discovery Channel (TV and Internet)
• The Weather Channel (TV and Internet)
• The Science Channel (TV and Internet)
• Talk (and convince!) your science teacher and parents into coordinating a field trip to the Air and
Space Museum in Washington, DC or the Udvar Hazy Museum next to Dulles Airport in
Herndon,Virginia…

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Launch Control Room at NOAA