Satellites play a vital role in modern society, supporting communications, navigation, Earth observation, scientific discovery, and security. This comprehensive report highlights 100 of the most important currently operational satellites across five major categories: Communications, Earth Observation, Navigation/Positioning, Scientific & Exploration, and Military/Intelligence. Each entry includes the satellite’s name (and launch year), operating organization, purpose and…
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Tracking satellites has never been easier. Thanks to a range of online tools and mobile apps, anyone can follow spacecraft in real time – from the International Space Station (ISS) to SpaceX’s Starlink constellation – right from a web browser or smartphone. These satellite trackers not only show live positions on maps or in the sky, but…
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Ultimate Guide to Satellites: From Sputnik to SpaceX and Beyond Satellites are the unseen workhorses of modern life. Every time you check the weather, follow GPS directions, or watch live international events, you’re benefiting from satellites orbiting high above. But what exactly are satellites, and how did we go from the humble beginnings of Sputnik in 1957…
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The GNSS Augmentation & Precise Positioning Services Market is entering a phase of rapid growth, fueled by surging demand for centimeter-level accuracy across industries. High-precision GNSS correction services – including satellite-based augmentation, real-time kinematic (RTK) networks, and precise point positioning (PPP) – have become indispensable for modern applications like precision agriculture, construction automation, surveying, and…
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Introduction to Satellite Radio Satellite radio is a form of digital radio broadcast that transmits audio signals from satellites orbiting the Earth, enabling coverage across vast areas with high clarity britannica.com. Unlike traditional AM/FM radio confined to local transmitters, satellite radio beams content directly from space to receivers (typically in cars and homes) via geostationary…
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Satellite texting services are revolutionizing off-grid communication, allowing people to send text messages via satellites when cellular networks are out of reach. From hikers using handheld satellite messengers to military units relying on secure satcom links, these services keep us connected virtually anywhere on the planet. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore consumer offerings (like…
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Introduction to Satellite TV Satellite television (satellite TV) is a system of delivering television programming to viewers by transmitting signals via communications satellites orbiting the Earth. In a typical setup, broadcasters send their TV feeds to a powerful uplink dish on the ground, which beams the signals up to a satellite in space. The satellite,…
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Introduction to Weather Satellites Weather satellites are spacecraft orbiting Earth that continually observe atmospheric conditions from above. They serve as “eyes in the sky” for meteorologists, providing a global view of weather systems that ground observers alone could never achieve. By capturing images and data on clouds, storms, temperature, and more, weather satellites supply crucial…
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Introduction to Spy Satellites Spy satellites – officially known as reconnaissance satellites – are orbiting spacecraft used by governments to secretly monitor activities on Earth for national security purposes. They serve as high-tech “eyes in the sky,” peering down from space to collect intelligence on foreign military forces, weapons developments, missile launches, and other strategic…
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Space’s Messy Problem: Orbital Debris and the Sustainability Crisis Earth’s orbits have become a cosmic junkyard. Decades of launches have left tens of thousands of pieces of debris whizzing around the planet at 28,000 km/h, each one a potential bullet threatening active spacecraft vivatechnology.com vivatechnology.com. As of mid-2020s, over 32,000 debris objects are regularly tracked…
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