Satellites Dictionary

 

angle of inclination: The angle of a satellite’s orbit in relation to the equator.

antenna: Long, thing rods designed to send and receive electromagnetic waves for communication purposes.

areocentric orbit: Describes anything orbiting around Mars.

artificial satellite: A satellite that is manmade.

astronomical satellites: A type of satellite used to study other planets and galaxies, as well as other objects that are in space.

 

astrophotography: A category of photography which captures objects in space through various techniques including extended exposure and special filters.

bird: Slang for a communications satellite.

 

biosatellites: Satellites which carry living organisms for experiments and study.

body: See bus.

bus: The technical term for the body of a satellite. A bus contains all of scientific equipment of the satellite.

 

CNSA: "China National Space Administration;" governing body for space travel and exploration in the People's Republic of China.

 

centric classification: A category of orbits a satellite may follow around an object which include galacto-centric, heliocentric, geocentric and areocentric.

 

communications satellites: Satellites launched for the purpose of serving telecommunications networks.

 

Constellation Program: An initiative launched by NASA to create space vehicles.

dawn to dusk orbit: An orbit in which a satellite is always in the sun, enabling it to be almost completely solar powered.

 

deep space: Area outside the gravitational pull of earth.

Earth observation satellite: This type of satellite is used to study various aspects of Earth, including weather patterns, population growth and migration and the oceans.

 

eccentricity: A mathematical measure of the amount of sway in a satellite's orbit.

elliptical orbit: An orbit that resembles a flattened circle.

equator: An imaginary line that runs east/west around the Earth halfway between the north and south pole.

equatorial orbit: An orbit that follows the Earth’s equator.

 

ESA: "European Space Agency;" governing body for space exploration in Europe, based in Paris, France.