Definition of the word satellite

A satellite or artificial satellite^[a] is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Satellites have a variety of uses, including communication relay, weather forecasting, navigation (GPS), broadcasting, scientific research, and Earth observation. Additional military uses are reconnaissance, early warning, signals intelligence and, potentially, weapon delivery. Other satellites include the final rocket stages that placed satellites in orbit and formerly useful satellites that are now defunct.

Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs). Most satellites also have a method of communication to ground stations, called transponders. Many satellites use a standardized bus to save cost and work, the most popular of which is small CubeSats. Similar satellites can work together as a group, forming constellations. Because of the high launch cost to space, satellites are designed to be as lightweight and robust as possible. Most communication satellites are radio relay stations in orbit and carry dozens of transponders, each with a bandwidth of tens of megahertz.

Satellites are placed from the surface to orbit by launch vehicles, high enough to avoid orbital decay by the atmosphere. Satellites can then change or maintain the orbit by propulsion, usually by chemical or ion thrusters. In 2018, about 90% of satellites orbiting Earth are in low Earth orbit or geostationary orbit; geostationary means the satellites stay still at the sky. Some imaging satellites chose a Sun-synchronous orbit because they can scan the entire globe with similar lighting. As the number of satellites and space debris around Earth increases, the threat of collision has become more severe. A small number of satellites orbit other bodies (such as the Moon, Mars, and the Sun) or many bodies at once (two for a halo orbit, three for a Lissajous orbit).

Earth observation satellites gather information for reconnaissance, mapping, monitoring the weather, ocean, forest, etc. Space telescopes take advantage of outer space’s near perfect vacuum to observe objects with the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Because satellites can see a large portion of the Earth at once, communications satellites can relay information to remote places. The signal delay from satellites and their orbit’s predictability are used in satellite navigation systems, such as GPS. Space probes are satellites designed for robotic space exploration outside of Earth, and space stations are in essence crewed satellites.

The first artificial satellite to be launched into the Earth’s orbit was the Soviet Union’s Sputnik 1, on 4 October 1957. As of April 2022, there were 5,465 operational satellites in Earth orbit, of which 3,434 belong to the United States (2,992 commercial), 541 belong to China, 172 belong to Russia, and 1,319 belong to other nations.^[1]

History[edit]

Early proposals[edit]

The first published mathematical study of the possibility of an artificial satellite was Newton’s cannonball, a thought experiment by Isaac Newton to explain the motion of natural satellites, in his Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (1687). The first fictional depiction of a satellite being launched into orbit was a short story by Edward Everett Hale, «The Brick Moon» (1869).^[2][3] The idea surfaced again in Jules Verne’s The Begum’s Fortune (1879).

In 1903, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky (1857–1935) published Exploring Space Using Jet Propulsion Devices, which is the first academic treatise on the use of rocketry to launch spacecraft. He calculated the orbital speed required for a minimal orbit, and that a multi-stage rocket fueled by liquid propellants could achieve this.

Herman Potočnik explored the idea of using orbiting spacecraft for detailed peaceful and military observation of the ground in his 1928 book, The Problem of Space Travel. He described how the special conditions of space could be useful for scientific experiments. The book described geostationary satellites (first put forward by Konstantin Tsiolkovsky) and discussed communication between them and the ground using radio, but fell short of the idea of using satellites for mass broadcasting and as telecommunications relays.^[4]

In a 1945 Wireless World article, the English science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke described in detail the possible use of communications satellites for mass communications. He suggested that three geostationary satellites would provide coverage over the entire planet.^[5]: 1–2

In May 1946, the United States Air Force’s Project RAND released the Preliminary Design of an Experimental World-Circling Spaceship, which stated «A satellite vehicle with appropriate instrumentation can be expected to be one of the most potent scientific tools of the Twentieth Century.»^[6] The United States had been considering launching orbital satellites since 1945 under the Bureau of Aeronautics of the United States Navy. Project RAND eventually released the report, but considered the satellite to be a tool for science, politics, and propaganda, rather than a potential military weapon.^[7]

In 1946, American theoretical astrophysicist Lyman Spitzer proposed an orbiting space telescope.^[8]

In February 1954, Project RAND released «Scientific Uses for a Satellite Vehicle», by R. R. Carhart.^[9] This expanded on potential scientific uses for satellite vehicles and was followed in June 1955 with «The Scientific Use of an Artificial Satellite», by H. K. Kallmann and W. W. Kellogg.^[10]

First satellites[edit]

In the context of activities planned for the International Geophysical Year (1957–1958), the White House announced on 29 July 1955 that the U.S. intended to launch satellites by the spring of 1958. This became known as Project Vanguard. On 31 July, the Soviet Union announced its intention to launch a satellite by the fall of 1957.

The first artificial satellite was Sputnik 1, launched by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957 under the Sputnik program, with Sergei Korolev as chief designer. Sputnik 1 helped to identify the density of high atmospheric layers through measurement of its orbital change and provided data on radio-signal distribution in the ionosphere. The unanticipated announcement of Sputnik 1’s success precipitated the Sputnik crisis in the United States and ignited the so-called Space Race within the Cold War.

Sputnik 2 was launched on 3 November 1957 and carried the first living passenger into orbit, a dog named Laika.^[11]

In early 1955, after pressure by the American Rocket Society, the National Science Foundation, and the International Geophysical Year, the Army and Navy were working on Project Orbiter with two competing programs. The army used the Jupiter C rocket, while the civilian–Navy program used the Vanguard rocket to launch a satellite. Explorer 1 became the United States’ first artificial satellite, on 31 January 1958.^[12] The information sent back from its radiation detector led to the discovery of the Earth’s Van Allen radiation belts.^[13] The TIROS-1 spacecraft, launched on April 1, 1960, as part of NASA’s Television Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS) program, sent back the first television footage of weather patterns to be taken from space.^[14]

In June 1961, three and a half years after the launch of Sputnik 1, the United States Space Surveillance Network cataloged 115 Earth-orbiting satellites.^[15]

Early satellites were built to unique designs. With advancements in technology, multiple satellites began to be built on single model platforms called satellite buses. The first standardized satellite bus design was the HS-333 geosynchronous (GEO) communication satellite launched in 1972. Begun in 1997, FreeFlyer is a commercial off-the-shelf software application for satellite mission analysis, design, and operations.

Later development[edit]

While Canada was the third country to build a satellite which was launched into space,^[16] it was launched aboard an American rocket from an American spaceport. The same goes for Australia, who launched first satellite involved a donated U.S. Redstone rocket and American support staff as well as a joint launch facility with the United Kingdom.^[17] The first Italian satellite San Marco 1 launched on 15 December 1964 on a U.S. Scout rocket from Wallops Island (Virginia, United States) with an Italian launch team trained by NASA.^[18] By similar occasions, almost all further first national satellites was launched by foreign rockets.

After the late 2010s, and especially after the advent and operational fielding of large satellite internet constellations—where on-orbit active satellites more than doubled over a period of five years—the companies building the constellations began to propose regular planned deorbiting of the older satellites that reach end of life, as a part of the regulatory process of obtaining a launch license.^{[citation needed]} The largest artificial satellite ever is the International Space Station.^[19]

By the early 2000s, and particularly after the advent of CubeSats and increased launches of microsats—frequently launched to the lower altitudes of low Earth orbit (LEO)—satellites began to more frequently be designed to demise, or breakup and burnup entirely in the atmosphere.^[20]
For example, SpaceX Starlink satellites, the first large satellite internet constellation to exceed 1000 active satellites on orbit in ~2020, are designed to be 100% demisable and burn up completely on atmospheric reentry at end of life, or in the event of an early satellite failure.^[21]

Components[edit]

Orbit and altitude control[edit]

«Altitude control» redirects here. Not to be confused with Attitude control.

Most satellites use chemical or ion propulsion to adjust or maintain their orbit,^[5]: 78 coupled with reaction wheels to control its three axis of rotation or attitude. Satellites close to Earth are affected the most by variations in the Earth’s magnetic, gravitational field and the Sun’s radiation pressure; satellites that are further away are affected more by other bodies’ gravitational field by the Moon and the Sun. Satellites utilize ultra-white reflective coatings to prevent damage from UV radiation.^[22] Without orbit and orientation control, satellites in orbit will not be able to communicate with ground stations on Earth.^{[5]: 75–76}

Chemical thrusters on satellites usually use monopropellant (one-part) or bipropellant (two-parts) that are hypergolic. Hypergolic means able to combust spontaneously in contact to each other or to a catalyst. The most commonly used propellant mixtures on satellites are hydrazine-based monopropellant or monomethylhydrazine–dinitrogen tetroxide bipropellant. Ion thrusters on satellites usually are Hall-effect thrusters, which generate thrust by accelerating positive ions through a negatively-charged grid. Ion propulsion is more efficient propellant-wise than chemical propulsion but its thrust is very small (around 0.5 N or 0.1 lb_f), thus requires a longer burn time. The thrusters usually use xenon because it is inert, can be easily ionized, has a high atomic mass and storable as a high-pressure liquid.^{[5]: 78–79}

Power[edit]

Most satellites use solar panels to generate power, and a few in deep space with limited sunlight use radioisotope thermoelectric generators. Slip rings attach solar panels to the satellite; the slip rings can rotate to be perpendicular with the sunlight and generate the most power. All satellites with a solar panel must also have batteries, because sunlight is blocked inside the launch vehicle and at night. The most common types of batteries for satellites are lithium-ion, and in the past nickel–hydrogen.^{[5]: 88–89}

Communications[edit]

Applications[edit]

Earth observation[edit]

Earth observation satellites is designed to monitor and survey the Earth, called remote sensing. Most Earth observation satellites are placed in low Earth orbit for a high data resolution, though some are placed in a geostationary orbit for an uninterrupted coverage. Some satellites are placed in a Sun-synchronous orbit to have consistent lighting and obtain a total view of the Earth. Depending on the satellites’ functions, they might have a normal camera, radar, lidar, photometer, or atmospheric instruments. Earth observation satellite’s data is most used in archaeology, cartography, environmental monitoring, meteorology, and reconnaissance applications.^{[citation needed]} As of 2021, there are over 950 Earth observation satellites, with the largest number of satellites operated Planet Labs.^[23]

Weather satellites monitor clouds, city lights, fires, effects of pollution, auroras, sand and dust storms, snow cover, ice mapping, boundaries of ocean currents, energy flows, etc. Environmental monitoring satellites can detect changes in the Earth’s vegetation, atmospheric trace gas content, sea state, ocean color, and ice fields. By monitoring vegetation changes over time, droughts can be monitored by comparing the current vegetation state to its long term average.^[24] Anthropogenic emissions can be monitored by evaluating data of tropospheric NO₂ and SO₂.^{[citation needed]}

Communication[edit]

Navigation[edit]

Navigational satellites are satellites that use radio time signals transmitted to enable mobile receivers on the ground to determine their exact location. The relatively clear line of sight between the satellites and receivers on the ground, combined with ever-improving electronics, allows satellite navigation systems to measure location to accuracies on the order of a few meters in real time

Telescope[edit]

Astronomical satellites are satellites used for observation of distant planets, galaxies, and other outer space objects.

Experimental[edit]

Tether satellites are satellites that are connected to another satellite by a thin cable called a tether. Recovery satellites are satellites that provide a recovery of reconnaissance, biological, space-production and other payloads from orbit to Earth. Biosatellites are satellites designed to carry living organisms, generally for scientific experimentation. Space-based solar power satellites are proposed satellites that would collect energy from sunlight and transmit it for use on Earth or other places.

Weapon[edit]

Since the mid-2000s, satellites have been hacked by militant organizations to broadcast propaganda and to pilfer classified information from military communication networks.^[28][29] For testing purposes, satellites in low earth orbit have been destroyed by ballistic missiles launched from earth. Russia, United States, China and India have demonstrated the ability to eliminate satellites.^[30] In 2007, the Chinese military shot down an aging weather satellite,^[30] followed by the US Navy shooting down a defunct spy satellite in February 2008.^[31] On 18 November 2015, after two failed attempts, Russia successfully carried out a flight test of an anti-satellite missile known as Nudol.^[32] On 27 March 2019, India shot down a live test satellite at 300 km altitude in 3 minutes. India became the fourth country to have the capability to destroy live satellites.^[33][34]

Pollution and interference[edit]

Issues like space debris, radio and light pollution are increasing in magnitude and at the same time lack progress in national or international regulation.^[36][35] Space debris poses dangers to spacecraft^[37][38] (including satellites)^[38][39] in or crossing geocentric orbits and have the potential to drive a Kessler syndrome^[40] which could potentially curtail humanity from conducting space endeavors in the future by making such nearly impossible.^[41][42]

With the increase in numbers of satellite constellations, like SpaceX Starlink, the astronomical community, such as the IAU, report that orbital pollution is getting increased significantly.^{[43][44][45][46][47]} A report from the SATCON1 workshop in 2020 concluded that the effects of large satellite constellations can severely affect some astronomical research efforts and lists six ways to mitigate harm to astronomy.^[48][49] The IAU is establishing a center (CPS) to coordinate or aggregate measures to mitigate such detrimental effects.^[50][51][52]

Some notable satellite failures that polluted and dispersed radioactive materials are Kosmos 954, Kosmos 1402 and the Transit 5-BN-3.

Generally liability has been covered by the Liability Convention. Using wood as an alternative material has been posited in order to reduce pollution and debris from satellites that reenter the atmosphere.^[53]

Due to the low received signal strength of satellite transmissions, they are prone to jamming by land-based transmitters. Such jamming is limited to the geographical area within the transmitter’s range. GPS satellites are potential targets for jamming,^[54][55] but satellite phone and television signals have also been subjected to jamming.^[56][57]

Also, it is very easy to transmit a carrier radio signal to a geostationary satellite and thus interfere with the legitimate uses of the satellite’s transponder. It is common for Earth stations to transmit at the wrong time or on the wrong frequency in commercial satellite space, and dual-illuminate the transponder, rendering the frequency unusable. Satellite operators now have sophisticated monitoring that enables them to pinpoint the source of any carrier and manage the transponder space effectively.^{[citation needed]}

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Satellite at Curlie
• EO Portal directory Archived 23 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine

Last Updated:
26 Mar 2023
— Updated example sentences

What do we mean by satellite?

An object launched to orbit Earth or another celestial body, as a device for reflecting or relaying radio signals or for capturing images. noun

A celestial body, such as a moon, planet, comet, or other solar system body, that orbits a larger body. noun

A small unit in a system or organization that is managed or controlled by a larger, often centrally located unit. noun

A nation dominated politically and economically by another nation. noun

An urban or suburban community located near a big city. noun

One who attends a powerful dignitary; a subordinate. noun

A subservient follower; a sycophant. noun

A short segment of a chromosome separated from the rest by a constriction, typically associated with the formation of a nucleolus. noun

A colony of microorganisms whose growth in culture medium is enhanced by certain substances produced by another colony in its proximity. noun

Of, relating to, or being a satellite. adjective

Of or relating to the transmission of electromagnetic signals by communications satellite. adjective

There are thus 26 satellites of 6 planets, of which 25 have been discovered in modern times (since 1610) by 9 observers (Galileo 4, Cassini 4, W. Herschel 4, Lassell 3, Hall 2, Perrine 2, Pickering 2, others 1 each). noun

The point of intersection with a cubic curve of a tangent at a given point of the curve is this given point’s satellite. noun

A vein accompanying an artery. noun

One of the smaller pathological formations which are associated with the primary larger one. noun

In gregarines, any member except the first in a chain-like association. Compare primite. noun

A follower; particularly, a subservient or obsequious follower or attendant; a subordinate attendant. noun

An attendant moon; a small planet revolving round a larger one; a secondary planet. noun

A moon or other smaller body orbiting a larger one.

A man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body, generally to relay information, data etc. to Earth.

A country, state, office, building etc. which is under the jurisdiction, influence, or domination of another body.

An attendant on an important person; a member of someone’s retinue, often in a somewhat derogatory sense; a henchman.

Satellite TV; reception of television broadcasts via services that utilize man-made satellite technology.

(grammar) A grammatical construct that takes various forms and may encode a path of movement, a change of state, or the grammatical aspect. Examples: «a bird flew past»; «she turned on the light».

A method of classroom mischief.
Ingredients : Pencil eraser and 4-5 staples.
1. Take the staples and stick them in all sides of the eraser.
2. Throw eraser at ceiling, hope it sticks.
3. ???
4. PROFIT~ Urban Dictionary

When dudes are hovering around or chasing after a chick, like at a bar, trying to get with her but not being successful. Usually these dudes are retarded and the chick isn’t interested in them. Urban Dictionary

Noun:
(on the satellite, to the satellite)
1. either high, drunk, or a combination of both, to the point that you feel like you are on a «sattelite» or another planet completely.
2. fucked up, out of your mind.
3. the state of mind resulting from smoking an excess amount of marijuana, in which your normal brain functioning and reaction times are drastically slower than normal.
verb:
(satellite’n, satelliting)
1. smoking too much marijuana, in order to reach an extreme state of highness.
2. the act of getting fucked up to the point of slowed brain functioning and reaction time. These results are usually the intention of the person. Urban Dictionary

A device which does either:
1. Orbits earth as a communications device or provides military intelligence. (Often to people who arent intelligent. Clearly the need for hundreds of them proves it).
2. A celestial body which orbits another. ie: Moon spins around Earth.
3. The unfortunate recipeient of the name «POES» which hails from NASA. NASA should try looking under «P» in an afrikaans dictionary. Im sure the directors wouldnt be impressed by the fact they are (see example:)
* This is primarily amusing to South Africans. However if you knew what POES is you’d find it amusing too. I’d like to be an Astronaut!! Urban Dictionary

When your got that kid you hang out with that you don’t really like and you dont want them to smoke your weed, so you make them take the last hit of the blunt and they inhale the rest of the blunt ..ending up in their lungs Urban Dictionary

A hot chick’s less desireable freinds. They may be fat, ugly, or just mean. Satellites are much easier to pick up than the actual hottie, but you may not admit to it tomorrow. Urban Dictionary

The condition of being so high and/or drunk that one cannot function normally. The state of being affected by one or more psychoactive drugs. Urban Dictionary

When having a conversation one of the people has a delayed reaction. Someone who is always behind everyone else, kind of slow. Urban Dictionary

A mean to have FREE TV! Urban Dictionary

1.A breakoff from a group, either physically or socially.
2.An area chosen for this purpose. Urban Dictionary

sat·el·lite

(săt′l-īt′)

n.

1. An object launched to orbit Earth or another celestial body, as a device for reflecting or relaying radio signals or for capturing images.

2. Astronomy A celestial body, such as a moon, planet, comet, or other solar system body, that orbits a larger body.

3. A small unit in a system or organization that is managed or controlled by a larger, often centrally located unit.

4. A nation dominated politically and economically by another nation.

5. An urban or suburban community located near a big city.

6.

a. One who attends a powerful dignitary; a subordinate.

b. A subservient follower; a sycophant.

7. Genetics A short segment of a chromosome separated from the rest by a constriction, typically associated with the formation of a nucleolus.

8. Microbiology A colony of microorganisms whose growth in culture medium is enhanced by certain substances produced by another colony in its proximity.

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or being a satellite.

2. Of or relating to the transmission of electromagnetic signals by communications satellite: satellite broadcasting; satellite phone.

---

[French, hanger-on, hireling, from Old French, from Latin

satelles, satellit-

, originally «armed guard, bodyguard» (probably bearing axes like the fasces of lictors), from Etruscan

zaθ-laθ, zaθilaθ

, one who carries or strikes with an axe (exact reading in Etruscan inscription uncertain); akin to Etruscan

zati zatlχne

, for striking with an axe.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

satellite

(ˈsætəˌlaɪt)

n

1. (Astronomy) a celestial body orbiting around a planet or star: the earth is a satellite of the sun.

2. (Astronomy) Also called: artificial satellite a man-made device orbiting around the earth, moon, or another planet transmitting to earth scientific information or used for communication. See also communications satellite

3. a person, esp one who is obsequious, who follows or serves another

4. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a country or political unit under the domination of a foreign power

5. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a subordinate area or community that is dependent upon a larger adjacent town or city

6. (modifier) subordinate to or dependent upon another: a satellite nation.

7. (Telecommunications) (modifier) of, used in, or relating to the transmission of television signals from a satellite to the house: a satellite dish aerial.

vb

(Telecommunications) (tr) to transmit by communications satellite

[C16: from Latin satelles an attendant, probably of Etruscan origin]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

sat•el•lite

(ˈsæt lˌaɪt)

n.

1. a natural body that revolves around a planet; moon.

2. a device designed to be launched into orbit around the earth, another planet, the sun, etc.

3. a country under the domination or influence of another.

4. something that depends on, accompanies, or is subordinate to something else.

5. a place or facility physically separated from but associated with or dependent on another place or facility.

6. an attendant or follower of another person, often subservient or obsequious in manner.

adj.

7. of or constituting a satellite.

8. subordinate to another authority, outside power, or the like.

[1540–50; < Latin satellit-, s. of satelles attendant]

Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

satellite

Communications satellites receive, amplify, and transmit radio signals between dish antennas that may be hundreds of miles apart.

sat·el·lite

(săt′l-īt′)

1. A celestial body that orbits a planet; a moon. See Note at moon.

2. An object launched to orbit Earth or another celestial body. Satellites are used for research, communications, weather information, and navigation.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

satellite

Past participle: satellited
Gerund: satelliting

Imperative
satellite
satellite

Present
I satellite
you satellite
he/she/it satellites
we satellite
you satellite
they satellite

Preterite
I satellited
you satellited
he/she/it satellited
we satellited
you satellited
they satellited

Present Continuous
I am satelliting
you are satelliting
he/she/it is satelliting
we are satelliting
you are satelliting
they are satelliting

Present Perfect
I have satellited
you have satellited
he/she/it has satellited
we have satellited
you have satellited
they have satellited

Past Continuous
I was satelliting
you were satelliting
he/she/it was satelliting
we were satelliting
you were satelliting
they were satelliting

Past Perfect
I had satellited
you had satellited
he/she/it had satellited
we had satellited
you had satellited
they had satellited

Future
I will satellite
you will satellite
he/she/it will satellite
we will satellite
you will satellite
they will satellite

Future Perfect
I will have satellited
you will have satellited
he/she/it will have satellited
we will have satellited
you will have satellited
they will have satellited

Future Continuous
I will be satelliting
you will be satelliting
he/she/it will be satelliting
we will be satelliting
you will be satelliting
they will be satelliting

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been satelliting
you have been satelliting
he/she/it has been satelliting
we have been satelliting
you have been satelliting
they have been satelliting

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been satelliting
you will have been satelliting
he/she/it will have been satelliting
we will have been satelliting
you will have been satelliting
they will have been satelliting

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been satelliting
you had been satelliting
he/she/it had been satelliting
we had been satelliting
you had been satelliting
they had been satelliting

Conditional
I would satellite
you would satellite
he/she/it would satellite
we would satellite
you would satellite
they would satellite

Past Conditional
I would have satellited
you would have satellited
he/she/it would have satellited
we would have satellited
you would have satellited
they would have satellited

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

satellite

A spacecraft launched into orbit around the Earth or entering an orbit around some other body in the solar system. Satellites are used for gathering information, intelligence, and for communication. They transmit radio, telephone, and television signals. Constant radio links became possible in 1963.

Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited

Translations

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Once Iraq became a hot bed for kidnapping, reporters had to use every kind of trick they could manage to avoid it. This included chase cars, security men for more prosperous agencies and networks, and GPS signals on satellite phones that could pinpoint the journalist’s locations.

Janine di Giovanni

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD SATELLITE

From Latin satelles an attendant, probably of Etruscan origin.

PRONUNCIATION OF SATELLITE

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF SATELLITE

Satellite is a verb and can also act as a noun.

WHAT DOES SATELLITE MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Definition of satellite in the English dictionary

The first definition of satellite in the dictionary is a celestial body orbiting around a planet or star. Other definition of satellite is a person, esp one who is obsequious, who follows or serves another. Satellite is also a country or political unit under the domination of a foreign power.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO SATELLITE

PRESENT

PAST

FUTURE

CONDITIONAL

IMPERATIVE

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH SATELLITE

SYNONYMS OF «SATELLITE»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «satellite» and belong to the same grammatical category.

TRANSLATION OF SATELLITE

Find out the translation of satellite to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «SATELLITE»

The term «satellite» is very widely used and occupies the 3.114 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.

Principal search tendencies and common uses of satellite

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «SATELLITE» OVER TIME

10 QUOTES WITH «SATELLITE»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word satellite.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «SATELLITE»

Discover the use of satellite in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to satellite and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «SATELLITE»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term satellite is used in the context of the following news items.

REFERENCE

« EDUCALINGO. Satellite [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/satellite>. Apr 2023 ».

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle French satellite, from Latin satelles (“attendant”). Ultimately perhaps of Etruscan origin.

Pronunciation[edit]

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈsætəlaɪt/

Noun[edit]

satellite (plural satellites)

1. A moon or other smaller body orbiting a larger one. [from 17th c.]

   The Moon is a natural satellite of the Earth.

   A spent upper stage is a derelict satellite.

2. A man-made apparatus designed to be placed in orbit around a celestial body, generally to relay information, data etc. to Earth. [from 20th c.]

   Many telecommunication satellites orbit at 36000km above the equator.

3. A country, state, office, building etc. which is under the jurisdiction, influence, or domination of another body. [from 19th c.]
4. (now rare) An attendant on an important person; a member of someone’s retinue, often in a somewhat derogatory sense; a henchman. [from 16th c.]
   • 1826, Walter Scott, Woodstock, p.348:

     […] he would nevertheless have a better bargain of this tall satellite if they settled the debate betwixt them in the forest […]. Betwixt anxiety, therefore, vexation, and anger, Charles faced suddenly round on his pursuer […].

   • 1948, Willard E. Hawkins, The Technique of Fiction: A Basic Course in Story Writing, p.169:

     The unnamed chronicler in his Dupin stories was the first Dr. Watson type of satellite—a narrator who accompanies the detective on his exploits, exclaims over his brilliance […].

5. (colloquial, uncountable) Satellite TV; reception of television broadcasts via services that utilize man-made satellite technology. [from 20th c.]

   Do you have satellite at your house?

6. (grammar) A grammatical construct that takes various forms and may encode a path of movement, a change of state, or the grammatical aspect. Examples: «a bird flew past«; «she turned on the light».
7. (genetics) A very large array of tandemly repeating, non-coding DNA.

Usage notes[edit]

• The man-made telecommunication objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon.

Synonyms[edit]

• (artificial orbital body): sat (abbreviation)

Hyponyms[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

See also[edit]

• (moon of Earth) Luna/‎Moon/‎moon ^[edit]
• (moons of Mars) Phobos, Deimos
• (moons of Jupiter) Metis, Adrastea, Amalthea, Thebe, Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, Themisto, Leda, Himalia, Lysithea, Elara, Euporie, Thelxinoe, Euanthe, Helike, Orthosie, Iocaste, Praxidike, Harpalyke, Mneme, Hermippe, Thyone, Ananke, Herse, Aitne, Kale, Taygete, Chaldene, Erinome, Aoede, Kallichore, Kalyke, Carme, Callirrhoe, Eurydome, Pasithee, Kore, Cyllene, Eukelade, Pasiphaë, Hegemone, Arche, Isonoe, Sinope, Sponde, Autonoe, Megaclite
• (moons of Saturn) Pan, Daphnis, Atlas, Prometheus, Pandora, Epimetheus, Janus, Aegaeon, Mimas, Methone, Anthe, Pallene, Enceladus, Tethys, Telesto, Calypso, Dione, Helene, Polydeuces, Rhea, Titan, Hyperyon, Iapetus, Kiviuq, Ijiraq, Phoebe, Paaliaq, Skathi, Albiorix, Bebhionn, Erriapus, Skoll, Siamaq, Tarqeq, Greip, Hyrrokin, Jarnsaxa, Tarvos, Mundilfari, Bergelmir, Narvi, Suttungr, Hati, Farbauti, Thrymr, Aegir, Bestla, Fenrir, Surtur, Kari, Ymir, Loge, Fornjot
• (moons of Uranus) Cordelia, Ophelia, Bianca, Cressida, Desdemona, Juliet, Portia, Rosalind, Cupid, Belinda, Perdita, Puck, Mab, Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, Oberon, Francisco, Caliban, Stephano, Trinculo, Sycorax, Margaret, Prospero, Setebos, Ferdinand
• (moons of Neptune) Naiad, Thalassa, Despina, Galatea, Larissa, Proteus, Triton, Nereid, Halimede, Sao, Laomedeia, Psamathe, Neso
• (moons of Pluto) Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos, Hydra
• (moons of Haumea) Namaka, Hiʻiaka
• (moons of Eris) Dysnomia

Verb[edit]

satellite (third-person singular simple present satellites, present participle satelliting, simple past and past participle satellited)

1. (broadcasting, transitive) To transmit by satellite.
   • 1997, Alvin A. Snyder, Warriors of Disinformation (page 160)

     It had to speed up its efforts to participate in the international satellite television market. In the summer of 1986 it began satelliting TV programs to Africa, and in early 1987, to Asia and twenty countries in Latin America […]

Anagrams[edit]

• telestial

French[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Latin satellitem (accusative singular of satelles).

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /sa.tɛ.lit/, /sa.te.lit/

Noun[edit]

satellite m (plural satellites)

1. satellite (moon or other celestial body)
2. satellite (man-made apparatus)

Adjective[edit]

satellite (plural satellites)

1. (relational) satellite (man-made apparatus)

   • 2013, Jean-Noël Marien; Émilien Dubiez; Dominique Louppe; Adélaïde Larzillière, Quand la ville mange la forêt: les défis du bois-énergie en Afrique centrale, →ISBN, page 45:

     Le couvert végétal du basin d’approvisionnement en bois-énergie de la ville de Kinshasa a été cartographié par images satellites

     (please add an English translation of this quote)

Derived terms[edit]

• image satellite

[edit]

• satellisation
• satelliser

Further reading[edit]

• “satellite”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Italian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Latin satellitem (originally ‘attendant’).

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /saˈtɛl.li.te/
• Rhymes: -ɛllite
• Hyphenation: sa‧tèl‧li‧te

Noun[edit]

satellite m (plural satelliti)

1. satellite

Adjective[edit]

satellite (invariable)

1. (relational) satellite

[edit]

Further reading[edit]

• satellite in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell’Enciclopedia Italiana

Anagrams[edit]

• allestite, stelliate

Latin[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /saˈtel.li.te/, [s̠äˈt̪ɛlːʲɪt̪ɛ]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /saˈtel.li.te/, [säˈt̪ɛlːit̪e]

Noun[edit]

satellite

1. ablative singular of satelles

Middle French[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Latin satellitem, accusative singular of satelles.

Noun[edit]

satellite m (plural satellites)

1. (military, Antiquity) a guard or watchman

Descendants[edit]

• English: satellite
• French: satellite

References[edit]

• Godefroy, Frédéric, Dictionnaire de l’ancienne langue française et de tous ses dialectes du IX^e au XV^e siècle (1881) (satellite, supplement)

Norman[edit]

Etymology[edit]

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun[edit]

satellite f (plural satellites)

1. (Jersey) satellite

Derived terms[edit]

• bolle à satellite (“satellite dish”)
• télévîsion dé satellite (“satellite television”)

[‘sæt(ɪ)laɪt]

1) Общая лексика: вспомогательный, зависимое государство, передавать через спутник связи, подчинённый, приверженец, приспешник, сателлитный, спутник, спутниковый, город-спутник, государство-сателлит, искусственный спутник

2) Биология: сателлит (у хромосомы) сателлитный , спутник

3) Морской термин: спутник

4) Медицина: сопутствующее заболевание, сопутствующее образование, сопутствующее образование или заболевание, сопутствующий, сателлит

5) Переносный смысл: последователь

6) Военный термин: страна-сателлит

7) Техника: вспомогательная ПТС, вспомогательная передвижная телевизионная станция, ретрансляционный телецентр, спутниковый ретранслятор, сателлит , искусственный спутник Земли

Карточный термин: отборочный турнир

9) Автомобильный термин: сателлитная шестерня

10) Астрономия: вторичный циклон, пригород, сопровождающее лицо, спутник

11) Кино: передавать через ИСЗ

12) Полиграфия: местный филиал крупной типографии, печатная секция планетарного типа, типография-спутник, искусственный спутник Земли

13) Электроника: ретранслятор, ретрансляционная станция

14) Нефть: сателлит , сателлитный остров

15) Генетика: спутник

16) Космонавтика: вспомогательный стартовый комплекс

17) Кристаллография: сателлитное отражение

18) Бурение: второстепенный

19) Нефтепромысловый: замерная групповая установка

20) Солнечная энергия: ИСЗ

21) Автоматика: ответвление транспортёра

22) Макаров: вспомогательное средство, зависимый, корабль-спутник, обязательная принадлежность, периферийный, принадлежность, сателлитный , сателлит , спутник

23) Нефть и газ: сателлиты, скважины-спутники

1	0   0 A tournament with a smaller buy-in that pools all the entrants’ funds and awards seats to a higher-value tournament rather than cash. For example, a $500 satellite that awards a WSOP.com Main Eve [..]

2	0   0 Satellite 1540s, «follower or attendant of a superior person,» from Middle French satellite (14c.), from Latin satellitem (nominative satelles) «attendant, companion, courtier, accomplice, assist [..]

3	0   0 Satellite A natural or artificial body in orbit around a planet.

4	0   0 Satellite Common in rural and remote areas, broadband satellite uses a home radio link and radio dish to bounce a signal off a satellite and down to an earth station. It’s used for fast Internet access and [..]

5	0   0 Satellite object that orbits around something else. Satellites can be natural, like moons, or made by people.

6	0   0 Satellite An artificial platform placed into orbit around the earth, often carrying instruments to gather environmental data. Any natural or man-made object that orbits about an astronomical body.

7	0   0 Satellite A free-flying object that orbits the Earth, another planet, or the sun. Click for citation

8	0   0 Satellite A man-made object that orbits Earth, the Moon, or another celestial object.

9	0   0 Satellite broadcast or disseminate via satellite man-made equipment that orbits around the earth or the moon surrounding and dominated by a central authority or power; "a city and its satellite com [..]

10	0   0 Satellite Is the controller that operates the irrigation system and sprinkler heads from a fixed remote location. Seed

11

0   0 Satellite Any object that orbits a celestial body, such as a moon. However, the term is often used in reference to the manufactured objects that orbit the earth, either in a geostationary or a polar manner. Some of the information that is gathered by weather satellites, such as GOES9, includes upper air temperatures and humidity, recording the temperatures o [..]

12	0   0 Satellite moving around a larger object in space or an artificial body placed in orbit round the earth or another planet to study it.

13	0   0 Satellite comparatively small body moving in orbit round a planet; artificial object.

14	0   0 Satellite a planet that revolves around another larger planet, as the moon revolves around the earth

15	0   0 Satellite A man-made object that orbits Earth, the Moon, or another celestial object.

16	0   0 Satellite A body which revolves around another body of preponderant mass and which has a motion primarily and permanently determined by the force of attraction of that other body. [NTIA] [RR] Note: A parent body and its satellite revolve about their common center of gravity.

17	0   0 Satellite a communications device in orbit above the Earth.

18	0   0 Satellite A man-made device orbiting around the earth, moon, or another planet. Satellites are used for research, communications, weather information, and navigation.

19	0   0 Satellite (1) A small, natural celestial body (such as our Moon) revolving around a larger one.

20	0   0 Satellite A tournament that does not award cash to its winners, but a seat (or seats) in a subsequent «target» tournament.

21	0   0 Satellite A radio relay station that orbits the earth. A complete satellite communications system also includes earth stations that communicate with each other via the satellite. The satellite receives a signal [..]

22	0   0 Satellite An object that revolves around a larger primary body. Satellites may be naturally occurring, such as the Moon, or they may be man-made, such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the Compton Gamma-Ray Obs [..]

23	0   0 Satellite — Any object that orbits another celestial body.

24	0   0 Satellite An object that moves around Earth or some other object rather than falling onto it.

25	0   0 Satellite DirecTV and DISH are examples of satellite TV companies, which deliver television programs to subscribers via communications satellites to an antenna and receiver (often built into an STB) combination [..]

26	0   0 Satellite A device designed to be launched into orbit around the Earth. GPS satellites broadcast position signals back to Earth than can be used for positioning techniques including machine control systems. [..]

27	0   0 Satellite natural or artificial object in space orbiting another object in space. saturation —

28	0   0 Satellite A satellite is any object which is in orbit about a much more massive object. The force required to keep the satellite in orbit is the gravitational attraction between the satellite and the massive ob [..]

29	0   0 Satellite In astronomy and space science, a satellite is simply any object which is in orbit about a larger parent orbit. The force required to keep the satellite in orbit is the graviational attraction between [..]

30	0   0 Satellite A celestial body revolving about one of the planets; e.g., the moon. Also any small body that revolves about a larger body, man-made or otherwise.

31	0   0 Satellite Satellite telecommunications establishments are made up mostly of government and private organizations that transmit a variety of data through satellites, including photos of the earth, messages to an [..]

32	0   0 Satellite (n) any celestial body orbiting around a planet or star(n) man-made equipment that orbits around the earth or the moon(n) a person who follows or serves another(v) broadcast or disseminate via sat [..]

33	0   0 Satellite An object in the solar system that orbits the Sun or a planet (Lessons 29, 30)

34	0   0 Satellite an object that has been placed in Earth’s orbit; oceanographers use satellites for high-speed global communication of various types of information

35	0   0 Satellite A small heavenly body revolving around a larger one. A human-made object put into orbit around the Earth, moon and other planets.

36	0   0 Satellite In dependency theory, the deformed and dependent economies of the underdeveloped countries.

37	0   0 Satellite Any object that orbits a celestial body, such as a moon. However, the term is often used in reference to the manufactured objects that orbit the earth, either in a geostationary or a polar manner. Som [..]

38	0   0 Satellite A

39	0   0 Satellite A free-flying object that orbits the Earth, another planet, or the sun.

40	0   0 Satellite A mini-tournament you play to qualify for a larger tournament.

41	0   0 Satellite is a tournament in which you can win an opportunity to enter another tournament.

42	0   0 Satellite A tournament which offers its winner(s) entry to a bigger or more important tournament.

43	0   0 Satellite A tournament in which the prize is a free entry into another (larger) tournament.

44	0   0 Satellite A tournament with a moderate buy-in, where the prize is a seat in a bigger tournament.

45	0   0 Satellite Any body, natural or artificial, in orbit around a planet. The term is used most often to describe moons and spacecraft.

46	0   0 Satellite A man-made object that orbits Earth, the Moon, or another celestial object.

47	0   0 Satellite a natural or artificial body that revolves around a planet

48	0   0 Satellite Any object that orbits a celestial body, such as a moon. However, the term is often used in reference to the manufactured objects that orbit the earth, either in a geostationary or a polar manner. Som [..]

49	0   0 Satellite Any object that orbits a celestial body, such as a moon. However, the term is often used in reference to the manufactured objects that orbit the earth, either in a geostationary

50

0   0 Satellite Any object that orbits a celestial body, such as a moon. However, the term is often used in reference to the manufactured objects that orbit the earth, either in a geostationary or a polar manner. Some of the information that is gathered by weather satellites, such as GOES9, includes upper air temperatures and humidity, recording the temperatures o [..]

51	0   0 Satellite A contest type that awards the winner(s) an entry ticket to a larger, upcoming contest. Same as qualifier.

52	0   0 Satellite googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js»>

53	0   0 Satellite A radio relay station that orbits the earth. A complete satellite communications system also includes earth stations that communicate with each other via the satellite. The satellite receives a signal [..]

54	0   0 Satellite A moon or other smaller body orbiting a larger one.en|satcountry; (nukkehallitus)office; (sivurakennus)(??,tr=????, eisei|sc=Jpan),Jersey * Norwegian:is|fylgihnöttur|m,is|gervitungl|n,is|gervihnöt [..]

55	0   0 Satellite Satellites are artificial air vehicles that circle the earth on predefined orbits and are used to meet whole range of different purposes (surveying, information transmission).

56	0   0 Satellite in genetics, a small mass attached to the end of the short arm of some chromosomes.

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