Types Of Satellites In Space

Satellite tethers tend to be relatively cheaper than spacecraft using rocket engines depending on the objective of the mission and altitude.

Types of satellites in space. Satellites moving close to the earth s surface are ideal for making observations for military purposes and for collecting weather data. This is a list of satellites and spacecraft which have been given usa designations by the united states air force these designations have been applied to most us military satellites since 1984 and replaced the earlier ops designation. Polar orbiting and geostationary. It is comparable to the soviet russian kosmos designation.

Common types include military and civilian earth observation satellites communications satellites navigation satellites weather satellites and space telescopes. Since the 1960s more than 26 000 satellites have been launched for both military and civilian purposes. Space stations and human spacecraft in orbit are also satellites. These satellites are placed in space at different altitudes and they are facing different planets depending on the applications.

Pisacane 2005 the molniya orbit is highly eccentric. 63 of current operational satellites are at a low orbit level 2000 km 6 are at medium orbit level 20000 km 20 are at the geostationary orbit level 36000 km and rest 2 at elliptic level 36000 km. Satellites can operate by themselves or as part of a larger system a satellite formation or satellite constellation. Both satellite systems have unique characteristics and produce very different products the two polar orbiting satellites in their north south orbits observe the same spot on the earth twice daily once during the daylight and once at night.

Adapted from fundamentals of space systems by vincent l. There are different types of tether satellites including skyhooks format flying tethers momentum exchange tethers and electrodynamic tethers. There are two types of weather satellites. The satellite moves in an extreme ellipse with the earth close to one edge.

Low earth orbits leo leo satellites occupy a region of space from about 111 miles 180 kilometers to 1 243 miles 2 000 kilometers above earth. As of december 2018 usa designations have been assigned to 290 space missions.