Unit E Section 2.3 Flashcards
What are satellites sometimes called?
“artificial satellites”
What are satellites?
are objects that are built and sent into Earth’s orbit by humans
What is a natural satellite?
A “natural” satellite refers to any small body that orbits a larger body, such as a moon orbiting a planet.
What do satellites do?
They transmit the information they receive to ground stations by radio waves
What are the functions of satellites?
help us communicate, observe and forecast weather, predict magnetic storms, even find our location on the planet Allow us to watch tv and phone calls
What happens when the information from the satellite is sent to the ground stations?
The information received as signals, must be decoded and then transmitted to the user through communication networks
How did people communicate before satellites?
-telegraph and telephone communication across the North American continent traveled through wires.
-Cable connections needed to be physically in
place in order for one person to talk with another.
This was a difficult and expensive process
What is a geosynchronous orbit?
- the satellite moves at the same rate as Earth spins.
- In this way, the satellite can observe the same area at all times.
Which system uses geosynchronous orbit?
Weather satellites are designed to stay in one position above Earth.
What are the two Canadian satellites?
LANDSAT and RADARSAT
What are the functions of LANDSAT and RADARSAT?
used to follow ships at sea, monitor soil quality, track forest fires, report on environmental change, Search for natural resources
Are LANDSAT and RADARSAT geosynchronous?
These satellites are not in geosynchronous orbit.
What is the main purpose of satellites in low Earth orbit?
is to carry out remote sensing.
What is remote sensing?
Remote sensing is a process in which imaging devices in a satellite make observations of the Earth’s surface
and send this information back to Earth.
How is data collected by remote sensing?
data collected from the sensing of heat and other invisible energy waves
Remote sensing can provide information on:
the condition of the environment on Earth,
natural resources,
effects of urbanization.
This information is used for planning
What does GPS stand for?
The Global Positioning System
What is the function of GPS?
to give people, wherever they are, their location on the ground at any time.
How many GPS satellites are around Earth?
Twenty-four GPS satellites are in orbit around Earth
How many GPS satellites are needed to find the person’s position or location?
at least three
How are Radio signals from the satellites received?
-picked up by a hand-held receiver
-The signals are translated by a computer in the
receiver, which then shows on a digital display the operator’s position in relation to the satellites.
Computer technology Space Use:
- Structural analysis of spacecraft
- Monitoring of air quality aboard spacecraft
- Simulation of space environment for training
Consumer technology Space Use:
- Design of space food for astronauts on long flights
* Study of aerodynamics and insulation
Medical and health technology Space Use:
• Design of electronics for the Hubble Space Telescope
• Development of slow-release medication to control
motion sickness
• Design of microcircuitry for electronics
• Development of communications and robotic systems
