So, What Is a Satellite Anyway?

A satellite is any object that goes around and around a larger object in space.

Some satellites are natural. For example, the Moon is a satellite because it goes around and around the Earth.

Other satellites, such as the International Space Station, are made by humans. Such human-made objects are referred to as "artificial satellites."

Generally, when people talk about satellites, they have in mind a human-made machine that is launched into space in order to perform one or more specific tasks, such as to relay communications, take pictures, or monitor the Earth's environment.

Here are illustrations of some modern communications satellites to see what they might look like in space:

Courtesy of Boeing Satellite Systems. All rights reserved.	Courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corp. All rights reserved.
Courtesy of EADS Astrium. All rights reserved.