communications satellite

Space-based transmitter

A communications satellite is an artificial satellite orbiting Earth that relays radio, television, telephone, and data signals between ground stations.

These satellites enable long-distance communication by receiving signals from one location and transmitting them to another, making possible everything from international phone calls to satellite television to GPS navigation.

Most occupy geostationary orbit, appearing fixed above one point on Earth's surface.

broadcasting

transponder

Signal-activated transmitter

uplinkTransmission to spacecraft
downlinkSpacecraft-to-Earth transmission
relayStage-by-stage transmission

footprint · coverage · bandwidth · frequency · geostationary · signal · feed · transmission · C-band · teleport

navigation

GPS

Satellite-based location technology

GalileoRenaissance astronomer from Italy
positioningArranging in specific locations
timingArt of choosing moments

orbit · geosynchronous · constellation · ephemeris · atomic clock · receiver · triangulation · accuracy · augmentation · differential

technology

solar panel

Light-to-power converter

antennaBroadcast signal receiver
busLarge passenger vehicle
payloadCarried freight or charge

apogee · perigee · thruster · attitude control · telemetry · tracking · command · propulsion · thermal · radiation

telecommunications

telephone

Voice communication device

internetInterconnected computer systems
broadbandFast internet access
dataFacts for analysis

voice · video · SES · mobile · maritime · aviation · backhaul · fiber · latency · connectivity

Categories

spaceflightlaunch, astronaut, spacecraft, liftoff, orbit
satellitesmicrosatellites, nanosatellites, SES, Terra, Aqua
space structuresspace station, space telescope, space habitat, space dock, lunar base
Bell Labstransistor, Unix, C language, information theory, cellular network
NASAApollo, Artemis, astronauts, Cape Canaveral, Hubble
space objectsgalaxy, star cluster, nebula, planet, quasar

Opposites

location/infrastructure type

communications satelliteground station

Surface facility receiving spacecraft signals

cell tower · undersea cable · fiber optic network · radio tower · broadcast tower

transmission range/coverage

communications satellitewalkie-talkie

Portable handheld radio transceiver

CB radio · intercom · local area network

technology era/method

communications satellitetelegraph

Electrical message system

semaphore · messenger pigeon · carrier pigeon · smoke signals · courier

Family

communication, communications, satellite, satellites, communicate, communicated, communicating, communicates, communicative

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G