Just another day in space
Satellites everywhere
Satellites are used to observe, watch over, guide, communicate, warn etc. In many areas they have become indispensable. Do you realize that a satellite is involved when you look at the weather forecast, or watch a football match live from Brazil? Before going any further, let's have a quick look at what satellites are currently doing for us.
Hello, anyone there?
Most satellites have an obsession: communication! Communication satellites serve as relays to send telephone communications, television broadcasts and high-speed Internet data across the globe However, satellites have not resulted in the disappearance of other very useful methods of communication: transmission by cables, optical fibres and broadcasting still remain very much in use!
What's the weather like?
Depressions, anticyclones...satellites are great at providing pictures of all kinds of weather formations. They are used for short terms forecasts and also to study climate change. Europe relies on Meteosat* geostationary satellites and MetOp*, the first polar-orbiting* European satellite, under the direction of EADS Astrium.
Where am I?
Some satellites are used for positioning on the earth - as with GPS* and the future European Galileo" >Galileo* fleet. They can tell you where you are, anywhere in the world at any time, and help you find your way. For mountain climbing, trekking or car journeys, they are a lot more useful than Hansel and Gretel's trail of breadcrumbs! Satellites also play a very important role in maritime navigation, controlling traffic and research and salvage missions.
Protecting the environment
Like Spot*and the GMES initiative, many satellites observe, photograph, study and monitor the earth with a view to improving our understanding and protecting the environment.
Satellites work together to protect us
Communication, weather, observation and scientific satellites can all work together in order to prevent epidemics on a global scale and to better understand them. A lot of infectious and transmissible diseases are linked to changes in climate. This promising new technique is known as tele-epidemiology.
Les fiches
Sur le même thème
Preparing for take off
Preparing to take off- Question of orbit
