1. ABOUT SATELLITE
WHAT IS SATELLIE ?
A satellite is an object that revolves around another object in a path
called an orbit.
Science background Information:
Satellites can be either natural or artificial (man-made). Our moon is
an example of a natural satellite as are all the moons of the other
planets. The earth can also be considered a satellite of the sun.
Artificial satellites are put into orbit by man. Some examples are
weather satellites (GOES), communication satellites (ANIK),
navigation satellites (GPS), scientific satellites (TERRIERS), and
military satellites (MILSTAR). The first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1,
was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957 - the US
launched Explorer-1 in January 1958. Congress established National
Air and Space Administration (NASA) on October 1, 1958 - this was
the start of the "Space Race" (add these to the time line). Prior to the
creation of NASA, the US space effort was a military controlled
enterprise (reference to the Cold War, nuclear scare, post-WWII
missile development).
3. GOES-8, a United States weather satellite of the Meteorological-satellite
service.
4. WHY ARE SATELLITES IMPORTANT ?
Satellites are important to us in the following ways:
• They provide us with radio and cable television.
• They allow us to make cellular phone calls from long distances.
• They provide us with a global positioning system (GPS).
• They circle the earth and relay weather conditions and forecasts.
• The government uses them to spy on other countries in order to
protect us.
• They are used for space research.
• Satellites even monitor crops and tell farmers which fields need to be
fertilized.
5. What Are the Parts of a Satellite?
The Anatomy of a Satellite
Satellites have only a few basic parts: a satellite
housing, a power system, an antenna system, a
command and control system, a station keeping
system, and transponders.
6. Types & Uses of Satellites?
Satellites can be classified by their function since they
are launched into space to do a specific job.
• Communications satellites
• Satellites for navigation
• Remote sensing satellites
• Weather Satellite
10. NIGERIA SPACE PROGRAMME
Five satellites have been launched by the Nigerian
government into outer space.
• NigeriaSat-1 is a satellite of the standard Disaster
Monitoring Constellation (DMC) design.
• NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X with 300 kg mass
each - to replace NigeriaSat-1
• NigComSat-1 Communications satellite providing
rural internet access
• NigComSat-1R - to replace the lost NigComSat-1,
