What is the difference between weather satellites and communication satellites?

Satellites serve different purposes and orbit at different heights.

• Weather satellites, like India’s INSAT-3D series, watch clouds, storms, cyclones and temperatures, helping forecasters track monsoons and cyclones.
• Communication satellites, like the GSAT series, relay TV, phone, internet and broadcasting signals. Many sit in geostationary orbit, about 36,000 km up, appearing fixed above one point on Earth.
• Earth-observation satellites, like the Cartosat and RISAT series, take detailed images for mapping, agriculture and security.
• Navigation satellites, like India’s NavIC system, provide location services.

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