Science glossary film: Satellite

A small celestial body orbiting about a larger one. The term commonly refers to man-made satellites, but does also apply to natural satellites, like our Moon. Since the Soviet Union launched Sputnik One in 1957, thousands of man-made satellites have been put into orbit for communication, astronomy, military use, or making Earth observations from space.

The term commonly refers to man-made satellites, but does also apply to natural satellites, like our Moon. Since the Soviet Union launched Sputnik One in 1957, thousands of man-made satellites have been put into orbit for communication, astronomy, military use, or making Earth observations from space.