Does Your Country Have A Satellite?
Antonia P. / Physics 337 / April 17,1997
Mariner
A satellite is an object launched into space to orbit the earth for
scientific purposes. Since the creation of satellites, traditional ways
of life have changed. Satellites have helped update and modernize societies.
Although their are many different types of satellites, the most well known
are communication and weather satellites. These satellites have served
as a link for the world.
Advancement and
Competition
The launching of satellites brought about a worldwide interest. Although
in 1991 the United States, the Soviet Union, and China were still the only
three countries with Reconnaissance (investigating) satellites, the world
was catching up. In 1992 the vast majority of satellites in space had been
built by the United States and Soviet Union but the European Space Agency
(including the countries of Western Europe) was becoming actively engaged
in space exploration through satellites (Charyk and Metzger 87). In 1994,
India and Germany were planning to develop Reconnaissance satellites (Waters
313). Also in 1994, Japan was reported to be working on a satellite that
would make both military and scientific observations (313). The same year
France, Italy, and Spain were also collaborating on the development of
their own Reconnaissance satellite network (313).
Benefits
Satellites benefit less advanced and withdrawn societies by providing
them with a communication link to the outside world. In addition to the
United States, many countries have developed or purchased their own communication
satellites, with numerous others planning to do likewise in the future
(Waters 309). The Soviet Union began building its orbiting system in 1965,
and now has three series of communication satellites orbiting the earthy.
These satellites bring television and communication service to remote areas
of the country, as well as to parts of Eastern Europe (309). Since the
1970's, India has been using a satellite called Site to transmit educational-television
programming to thousands of rural villagers (309).
Security
The use of military satellites helps strengthen a country's defense
system. "Military satellites enable countries like the United States
and the Soviet Union to judge the capabilities of their rivals in peacetime
and to monitor the movements of their enemies in war" (Waters 312).
Back in 1995 their was some commotion with a Chinese spy satellite that
was falling back to earth. A spy satellite contains censors that can detect
nuclear explosions and are used to monitor nuclear testing, information
that can be hazardous in the wrong hands. It is believed that this is not
China's only spy satellite, "In the past, Chinese officials have spoken
of the FSW -1 series of satellites as intended strictly for natural resources
monitoring. But western experts widely regard them as spy satellites"
(Broad 19).
New Use
As the advancement of satellites progresses, so do their uses. Usually
people who live in remote areas, without local T.V. stations, use dish
antennas up to twenty feet in diameter to pick up satellite signals (Waters
308). Japan and Germany now have satellites that broadcast T.V. programming
directly to consumers, who only need small dish satellites to pick up these
signals (308).
ORBCOMM'S
Union
For more than six years, ORBCOMM (group of companies) has been working
to produce low cost wireless communications. "ORBCOMM has developed
the satellites, the ground stations, specification for communicators and
a switching system, as well as software necessary for them to unite together,
in collaboration with companies in the United States, Israel, and Japan.
The company has also entered into agreements with service providers and
resellers who will soon be capable of providing messaging to almost seventy
countries containing more than two-thirds of the world population"
(ORBCOMM 3).
Conclusion
In the last few years satellites have become part of daily life. Whether
using a computer, making a telephone call, or doing something simple as
watching T.V. its all somehow linked to satellites. Within a few years
the progress made is extraordinary. Satellites have become a communication
link for the world. With the cost of satellites dropping its expected that
in the future all countries will have access to a satellite.
References
Broad, William J. "Spy Satellite Built by China to Hit Earth."
New York Times. 28 November 1995: A19.
Charyk and Metzger. "Artificial Satellites" Academic American
Encyclopedia. 1992 ed. 86-87.
. . . . . "How Personal Satellite Communications Became a Reality"
ORBCOMM.
http://www.orbcomm.net/prof01.html/. 12/17/96.
Waters, Tom. "Space Satellites" Popular Science. 1994,
vol 1, 302-315.