Satellites have many scientific and practical uses including transmitting television signals directly to homes, providing timing signals for cell phones, enabling GPS navigation on land, sea and air, allowing meteorologists to view global weather, and supporting business, safety, land management, development, and space science. Without satellites, communication would be slower and there would be fewer modern conveniences. Inventors were motivated to create satellites in part due to competition with the United States.

1. Satellites Peters, R

2. Scientific Principles v v is the velocity G is the gravitational constant M is the mass of the central body r is the radius of the orbit v r M G =

3. Impact Television Satellites send television signals directly to homes, but they also are the backbone of cable and network TV Telephones Satellites also provide the primary timing source for cell phones

4. Impact Navigation GPS-based systems are used by civilians and the military for navigation on land, sea, and air, Weather Satellites provide meteorologists with the ability to see weather on a global scale

5. Impact Other Major Uses Business & Finance Safety Land Stewardship Development Space Science

6. Questions What if satellites didn’t exist? Slower communication Fewer conveniences What motivations helped the inventor to create the satellite? Competition with the United States