How Satellites Work

Lots More Information

Author's Note: How Satellites Work

Don't get me wrong, it's great to be a beneficiary of satellite technology. But I can't help but feel a little sad when I look at images showing the hundreds of satellites buzzing around Earth's beautiful blue disc. In some of those images, our planet looks like a Chia Pet, sprouting an ungainly mop of man-made hair. – William Harris

How did the U.S. shoot down its spy satellite?
How GPS Receivers Work
How Hubble Space Telescope Works
How Telescopes Work
How Comets Work
How Digital Radio Will Work
How Radio Works
What is a keyhole satellite and what can it really spy on?
How does satellite Internet operate?
How can I track the NASA's Starshine satellite?

Sources

Beatty, J. Kelly. "Take a 'Sat-seeing' Tour." Sky & Telescope. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/satellites/Sat-seeing_Tour.html
Boeing Defense, Space and Security. "Boeing 601 Fleet." (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.boeing.com/boeing/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/601/601fleet.page?
The Boeing Company. "2012 Annual Report." (Oct. 22, 2013) https://materials.proxyvote.com/Approved/097023/20130301/CMBO_157699/
Buck, Joshua. "NASA Laser Communication System Sets Record with Data Transmissions to and from Moon." NASA. Oct. 22, 2013. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.nasa.gov/press/2013/october/nasa-laser-communication-system-sets-record-with-data-transmissions-to-and-from/#.UnayBpRAQcx
Buis, Alan. "Long-Running Jason-1 Ocean Satellite Takes Final Bow." Jet Propulsion Laboratory. July 3, 2013. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2013-213
Cain, Fraser. "How many satellites are in space?" Universe Today. Oct. 24, 2013 (Jan. 4, 2014) http://www.universetoday.com/42198/how-many-satellites-in-space/
Center for Space Physics, Boston University. "TERRIERS Mission." May 26, 1999. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.bu.edu/satellite/spacecraft/
GlobalCom Satellite Phones. "The Cost of Building and Launching a Satellite." (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.globalcomsatphone.com/hughesnet/satellite/costs.html
de Selding, Peter B. "World's Largest Commercial Satellite Launched." Space.com. July 1, 2009. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.space.com/6920-world-largest-commercial-satellite-launched.html
Durning, John. "About Webb's Orbit." NASA James Webb Space Telescope. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/orbit.html
The Editors of The New Atlantis. "The Future of Satellites." The New Atlantis. Fall 2003. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/the-future-of-satellites
Futron Corporation. "Space Transportation Costs: Trends in Price Per Pound to Orbit 1990-2000." White Paper. Sept. 6, 2002. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.futron.com/upload/wysiwyg/Resources/Whitepapers/Space_Transportation_Costs_Trends_0902.pdf
Goddard Space Flight Center. "Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration." (Oct. 22, 2013) http://esc.gsfc.nasa.gov/267/271.html
Irons, James R. "Landsat Science." NASA. Oct. 30, 2013. (Nov. 1, 2013) http://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Kaufman, Rachel. "Bread-Loaf Size Satellites to Probe Atmosphere, Deep Space." National Geographic Magazine. Aug. 8, 2012. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/08/120807-cubesat-satellites-space-science/?rptregcta=reg_free_np&rptregcampaign=20131016_rw_membership_r1p_us_dr_w#
Lockheed Martin. "The Satellite Site." (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.thetech.org/exhibits/online/satellite/
Lubchenco, Jane and Jack Hayes. "A Better Eye on the Storm." Scientific American. May 2012.
MacRobert, Alan M. "The Stellar Magnitude System." Sky & Telescope. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.skyandtelescope.com/howto/basics/Stellar_Magnitude_System.html
Martin, James. "Long Duration Exposure Facility." CNET. Nov. 12, 2012. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://news.cnet.com/2300-11386_3-10014512-16.html
McClintock, Jack. "Communications: Harold Rosen." Discover Magazine. Nov. 9, 2003. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://discovermagazine.com/2003/nov/communications#.UmbiuflwpBk
McGrath, Dylan. "NASA's 'PhoneSat' program points to satellites of the future." EDN Network. June 12, 2013. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/now-hear-this/4416264/NASA-s--PhoneSat--program-points-to-satellites-of-the-future-
NASA. "Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM)/Jason-2 Mission Overview." May 14, 2008. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/ostm/overview/index.html#.UnUPLVWzKph
NASA. "Shuttle Radar Topography Mission." Jan. 20, 2000. (Jan. 8, 2014). https://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/STS-99.pdf
NASA Education. "Escape Velocity: Fun and Games." April 10, 2009. (Jan. 9, 2014) http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/k-4/features/F_Escape_Velocity.html
NASA Orbital Debris Program. "Orbital Debris Frequently Asked Questions." March 2012. (Jan 8, 2014) http://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/faqs.html#3
The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS). (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/index.html
Office of Satellite and Product Operations. "Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES)." June 3, 2013. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Operations/GOES/index.html
Onion, Amanda. "The Future of Satellites and Forensics." ABC News. Feb. 26, 2013. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=98076
National Geographic. "Orbital Objects." (Oct. 22, 2013) http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/solar-system/orbital/#close-modal
Pang, Alex Soojung-Kim and Bob Twiggs. "Citizen Satellites." Scientific American. February 2011.
Peat, Chris. Heavens Above. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.heavens-above.com/?lat=0&lng=0&loc=Unspecified&alt=0&tz=UCT
Perez, Jake. "Eye in the Sky." National Geographic Magazine. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/satellites.html
Powell, Corey S. "Spotting Satellites in the Night Sky." Discover Magazine. Sept. 26, 2013. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://discovermagazine.com/2013/oct/22-satellite-spotting#.UmbglPlwpBk
Riebeek, Holli. "Catalog of Earth Satellite Orbits." Sept. 4, 2009. (Jan. 9, 2014) http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/OrbitsCatalog/
Roth, Joshua. "Observing Iridium Flares." Sky & Telescope. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/projects/3307166.html?page=1&c=yStillman, Dan. "What Is a Satellite?" NASA Education. Apr. 13, 2010. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/what-is-a-satellite-58.html#.UmboOvlwpBl
Union of Concerned Scientists. "Satellites: Types, orbits, countries, and debris." May 17, 2006. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear_weapons_and_global_security/space_weapons/technical_issues/satellites-types-orbits.html
Union of Concerned Scientists. "UCS Satellite Database." Sept. 13, 2013. (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear_weapons_and_global_security/space_weapons/technic al_issues/ucs-satellite-database.html
Wayana Software. "Satellites History." (Oct. 22, 2013) http://www.geosats.com/sathist.html