Different types of Earth observation, communication, and Experimental satellites.
Satellites are artificial objects placed into orbit around the Earth or other celestial bodies to collect data, enable communication, or observe the universe. Since the lunch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, by the Soviet Union in 1957, thousands of satellites have been launched into space.
There are different types of satellites, each serving a specific purpose. Communication satellites relay television, ration, and internet signals across the globe. Weather satellites monitor cloud patterns, storm development, and climate changes. Navigation satellites, like those used in the Global positioning System (GPS), help people and devices determine precise locations on Earth. Scientific satellites observe space phenomena, such as stars, black holes, and cosmic radiation, while military satellites are used for defense and surveillance.
Satellites orbit the Earth are different altitudes depending on their functions. Low Earth Orbit (LEO)satellites, typically between 180 to 2000 kilometers above Earth, are used for imaging and communication. Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites serve navigation systems, while Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites, around 35,786 Kilometers high, stay fixed over one spot and are ideal for weather and communication purposes.
🌍 INTERNATIONAL SATELLITES
ST-1 (Singapore and Taiwan)
Launch Date: 1998
Type: Communication satellite
Orbit: Geostationary
Purpose: Provided telecommute services including video broadcasting, Internet, and voice services.
- FORMOSAT-1 (Taiwan)
Launch Date: January 27, 1999
Mission: Scientific research on the ionosphere, Earth’s magnetic field, and ocean color.
Operators: NSPO (Taiwan’s National Space Organization)
- SUNSAT-1 (South Africa)
Launch Date: February 23, 1999
Mission: South Africa’s first satellite, built by Stellenbosch University students; remote sensing and amateur radio payload.
EIRSAT-1 (Ireland)
Expected Launch: 2025 (on a SpaceX flight)
Mission: Ireland’s first satellite; to study gamma-ray bursts and test novel thermal coatings.
GAINDESAT-1A (Senegal)
Launch Date: December 2022
Mission: Senegal’s first nanosatellite; used for Earth observation and environmental monitoring.
CROCUBE (Croatia)
Launch Date: June 2023
Purpose: First Croatian satellite; tech demonstration and national pride project.
- BOTSAT-1 (Botswana)
- Status: In development
Purpose: Earth observation for agricultural and environmental data.
- BADR-1 (Pakistan)
Launch Date: July 16, 1990
Mission: Experimental satellite; Pakistan’s first; basic telemetry transmission.
- KOSMOS 2175 (Russia)
Launch Date: 1991
Mission: Early warning satellite (Oko series), monitoring missile launches.
- KITSAT-1 (South Korea)
Launch Date: August 11, 1992
Purpose: Earth observation and technology demonstration; South Korea’s first satellite.
- THURAYA-1 (UAE)
Launch Date: 2000
Mission: Mobile satellite telephony; covers large parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe.
- PROBA-1 (Belgium/ESA)
Launch Date: October 22, 2001
Purpose: Earth observation; notable for longevity and success in demonstrating autonomous satellite operations.
- MAROC-TUBSAT (Morocco)
Launch Date: December 2001
Mission: Jointly developed with Germany; remote sensing and tech development.
- X-SAT (Singapore)
Launch Date: 2011
Mission: Remote sensing and image processing; collaboration between Singapore and India.
- SWISSCUBE (Switzerland)
Launch Date: September 2009
Mission: First Swiss satellite; studies nightglow phenomena in Earth’s atmosphere.
- VIASAT-1 (USA)
Launch Date: October 2011
Type: Communication satellite
Highlight: One of the highest-capacity broadband satellites at the time.
- ES’HAIL-1 (Qatar)
Launch Date: 2013
Purpose: Satellite television and amateur radio; Qatar’s first communications satellite.
- PUCP-SAT-1 (Peru)
Launch Date: 2013
Mission: Academic; developed by Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.
- TÚPAC KATARI-1 (Bolivia)
Launch Date: December 2013
Type: Communication satellite
Use: Telemedicine, distance learning, rural telephony.
- VENTA-1 (Latvia)
Launch Date: June 2017
Mission: Latvia’s first satellite; maritime traffic tracking and Earth observation.
- SKCUBE (Slovakia)
Launch Date: June 2017
Mission: Slovakia’s first satellite; technology test and radio transmission experiments.
- ANGOSAT-1 (Angola)
Launch Date: December 2017
Issue: Lost contact soon after deployment; was designed for TV and Internet services.
- BHUTAN-1 (Bhutan)
Launch Date: August 2018
Mission: Bhutan’s first satellite; developed under Japan’s BIRDS-2 program.
- JY1-SAT (Jordan)
Launch Date: 2018
Mission: Jordan’s first nanosatellite; student-built CubeSat.
- NEPALISAT-1 (Nepal)
Launch Date: April 2019
Mission: Nepal’s first satellite for imaging and education.
- SRSS-1 (Sudan Remote Sensing Satellite)
Launch Date: 2019
Purpose: Earth observation for agriculture and climate.
- ETRSS-1 (Ethiopia)
Launch Date: December 2019
Mission: Remote sensing; used for weather forecasting, agriculture, and disaster monitoring.
- QUETZAL-1 (Guatemala)
Launch Date: March 2020
Purpose: First Guatemalan satellite; student-developed with support from Japan.
INDIA’S SPACECRAFT HIGHLIGHTS
- INSAT-2D & INSAT-2A
Launched: 1997 (2D), 1992 (2A)
Use: Communication and weather monitoring.
- BHASKARA I & II
Launch: 1979, 1981
Significance: India’s early ventures in Earth observation.
- CARTOSAT-3
Launch: November 27, 2019
Use: High-resolution imaging for urban and rural planning, infrastructure development.
- GSAT-7
Launch: August 2013
Type: Defense satellite
Client: Indian Navy
- IRS-1C / IRS-1A
Launch: 1995 (1C), 1988 (1A)
Purpose: Remote sensing; helped in mapping, agriculture, forestry.
- RISAT Series
Launched: RISAT-1 (2012), RISAT-2 (2009)
Use: Radar imaging satellites for all-weather surveillance.
- IRNSS (Now NavIC)
Launched: 2013–2018
System: Regional navigation akin to GPS; 7-satellite constellation.
- IRNSS-14
Alternate name: IRNSS-1I (2018)
Use: Replacement for failed IRNSS-1A; part of NavIC.
- MICROSAT
Launched: Several missions including Microsat-R (2019)
Use: Earth observation and defense applications.
- ADITYA-L1
Launch: 2023
Purpose: India’s first mission to study the Sun.
- ASTROSAT
Launch: September 2015
Type: Multi-wavelength observatory; UV, X-ray, optical instruments.
- ARYABHATA
Launch: April 19, 1975
Significance: First Indian satellite; focused on X-ray astronomy and solar physics.
- GSAT-10
Launch: September 2012
Use: Communications; 30 transponders in Ku and C bands.
- RISAT-1
Purpose: Agricultural monitoring, soil moisture estimation, flood mapping.
SAR Type: C-band
Significance: India’s first indigenously developed radar imaging satellite.
Research Contributors:
- Nikita Arjun Godemani
- Anita Anandrao Patil
- Harshal Sunil Kamble
- Mohini Rajaram Sutar
- Soundarya Dayanand Kamble
- Kohinoor Sanjay Madhale
- Shubham Jayanand Berad
- Suraj Ashok Jadhav
- Sammed Suresh Patil
- Yogesh Jaykumar Kamble
- Somesh Kallappa Jadhav
