Satellites play a significant role in our daily lives. For example, we know whether to wear a sweater or shorts because weather satellites help forecasters predict the day’s temperature. The morning news is compiled from remote sites around the world using communication satellites. Our breakfast may be produced by farmers who use earth-sensing satellites to monitor their crops. The ATM machine where we withdraw money often is using a small satellite dish to transmit and receive account information. The groceries we buy are tracked from the field or warehouse to the store via satellite.
Throughout history, we have sought to better understand our world by viewing it from above. We climbed trees and hills and fortress towers to observe the lay of the land. Beginning in 1957, man-made satellite spacecraft became our eyes in the sky. Today, far beyond Earth’s atmosphere, more than 3,500 satellites are used to communicate, navigate, monitor the weather, study the earth and stars, and conduct military operations. |
