PDF chapter test TRY NOW
A satellite is a body revolving around a planet in orbit. The satellites revolve due to the planet's gravity and the centripetal force.
Except for Mercury and Venus, all the other planets in the solar system have natural satellites revolving around them.
Types of satellites:
There are two types of satellites. They are
1. Natural satellite:
Planets may have some natural celestial objects revolving around them. Moon is the only natural satellite of the Earth. Moon is visible since it reflects the light of the Sun.
Earth and Moon
2. Artificial satellite:
Artificial satellites are man-made satellites that revolve around the Earth. These man-made satellites are launched from the Earth, which revolves around it in a much closer orbit than the moon.
Communication satellite
Some of the practical applications of artificial satellites are weather forecasting, telecommunication, transmission of television and radio signals.
First satellite:
Sputnik was the first artificial satellite launched by the \(USSR\) in \(1956\) as a part of the Soviet space program.
Sputnik
India has also launched many satellites and contributed to the development of various fields. The first Indian satellite is Aryabhatta, which was launched on \(April\ 19,\ 1975\). The satellite was named after an ancient Indian Astronomer, Aryabhata.
Aryabhatta satellite
Some other Indian satellites are
- INSAT
- IRS
- Kalpana-1
- EDUSAT
Microgravity:
A condition in which people or objects appear to be weightless is known as microgravity.
Microgravity in a space station
From the word 'Micro' (meaning 'very small'), it is clear that 'microgravity' is a condition where gravity seems to be very small. The effects of this condition can be witnessed when astronauts and objects float in space.
Reference:
https://pxhere.com/en/photo/909722
Register for free to see more content