---
title: "What is the difference between weather satellites and communication satellites?"  
description: "What is the difference between weather satellites and communication satellites?"  
author: "Aidar Khabibullin"  
published: 2026-11-12  
updated: 2026-11-12  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/119995/what-is-the-difference-between-weather-satellites-and-communication-satellites  
category: "science"  
tags: ["types of satellites", "weather satellite", "communication satellite", "isro"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# What is the difference between weather satellites and communication satellites?



## Answers

### Answer by Guzel Mukhametova

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.

More in [space technology](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/questions/space-technology).


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