Natural vs. Artificial Satellites
- Natural Satellite: A celestial body orbiting a planet (e.g., The Moon).
- Artificial Satellite: A man-made machine launched into orbit.
Applications of Satellites
- Communication: Phone, Internet, and TV signals.
- Weather Monitoring: Predicting cyclones, rain, and tracking clouds (e.g., INSAT series).
- Navigation: GPS and NavIC (India’s navigation system).
- Remote Sensing: Mapping resources, forests, and water bodies (e.g., Cartosat, Bhuvan).
- Scientific Research: Studying stars and galaxies (e.g., AstroSat).
India in Space (ISRO)
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched many successful missions:
- Chandrayaan: Series of missions to the Moon.
- Mangalyaan: Mission to Mars.
- Aditya L1: Mission to study the Sun.
Warning
Space Debris: With so many satellites launching, dead satellites and rocket parts create “Space Junk”. This is dangerous as it can collide with working satellites.