--- title: "How satellites are broadly classified?" description: "How satellites are broadly classified?" author: "Lily Chitlangiya" published: 2021-11-10 updated: 2023-06-29 canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/94056/how-satellites-are-broadly-classified category: "space technology" tags: ["space programs", "space science"] reading_time: 3 minutes --- # How satellites are broadly classified? How satellites are broadly classified? \ ## Answers ### Answer by Yashna Bawa - **Communication satellites:** These satellites are used to transmit information, such as voice, data, and video. They are used for a variety of purposes, including [television broadcasting](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/300456/connected-tv-advertising-how-it-works), telecommunications, and navigation. ![Communication satellites](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bip/AKnpU_zwpqDq00wdVxmHpDrJu81BUPOhrY-xACbC2dzDkRpP5tWd95undRLUChOh7OJoGIjWCn4LI7sz_k2HamiWvMM7y7vSOIlk-C779-mlQQ_ffoV8Y_DPtn3UxMdt0BsiTH2eeIIly2Zks12Uo70vOiB6Ay6VONQzSzabT_FyBZPRIRaUfQO5iO3ueNZCAGZycKN6vEPlE5wjIDZ1SksRtDWPLjK2lTsxWgch4h0cAboTlf5JshythE-DueCLejSq7g1g_Ln1kB9fU3Q=w250-h200-p) - **Remote sensing satellites:** These satellites are used to collect data about the Earth's surface. They can be used to monitor weather patterns, track the movement of natural resources, and map the Earth's surface. ![Remote sensing satellites](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bip/AKnpU_z6GgSrXHH1ZIWE761T6ONRNRlN2Qm__pxUjnXTHzkhEsYKS2vfrHtWpkDYTwuZr2NHmaS60pfawFBDFDkV1AZfsgmDU8ExHZb-ZegylCV4CyLxrF6hFGcYmKT_MFFRw2cSAQ31u4rvgpVFXUUQigd62-aXhjOTVwE=w250-h200-p) Communication satellites and remote sensing satellites can be further classified into different types based on their orbit, function, and size. **Orbit:** The orbit of a satellite determines how long it takes to circle the Earth. [Communication satellites are typically placed in geosynchronous orbit, which means that they remain in the same position relative to the Earth's surface](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/205710/the-best-features-of-online-tv-services-in-2019). This allows them to provide continuous coverage of a particular area. Remote sensing satellites can be placed in a variety of orbits, including low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), and geosynchronous orbit. [![Geosynchronous orbit](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bip/AKnpU_yXTUFurVD4PU9Yd6FpA_ZaN7JCmqe5cI2iPzQA2zx4tXp_oQSfFllyOOiaCtsBCf3tZUoFLL_Uq93CovdtnJy1mPvnIdzC3SCfO6wl0To10tzPbGXVF28FJNFrH0oLPiP7gDliu9ay0qPcYa06VwTQTLyj2YY8W-2Uxf9wWjAXtOUjC9xuVLkKISQNJFslhEptV2gr=w250-h200-p)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geosynchronous_orbit) **Function:** Communication satellites can be used for a variety of purposes, including: - **Broadcasting:** Communication satellites are used to transmit television signals, radio signals, and data signals. - **Telephone calls:** Communication satellites are used to make telephone calls between different parts of the world. - **Internet access:** Communication satellites are used to provide internet access to remote areas. Remote sensing satellites can be used for a variety of purposes, including: - **Weather forecasting:** Remote sensing satellites are used to monitor weather patterns and track the movement of storms. - **Natural resource monitoring:** Remote sensing satellites are used to track the movement of natural resources, such as oil and gas. - **Mapping:** Remote sensing satellites are used to create maps of the Earth's surface. **Size:** Satellites can be classified into different sizes based on their mass. Small satellites, also known as nanosatellites, have a mass of less than 100 kilograms. Microsatellites have a mass of 100 to 1,000 kilograms. Minisatellites have a mass of 1,000 to 10,000 kilograms. Larger satellites are called heavy satellites. In addition to these two broad classifications, there are also a number of other types of satellites, such as navigation satellites, weather satellites, and Earth observation satellites. Navigation satellites are used to provide positioning and timing information. They are used by a variety of devices, including GPS receivers, smartphones, and aeroplanes. [![Navigation satellites](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bip/AKnpU_zuLv20c1SqiK2TXC4-xDK2S_qAReJG0_HvA5yas-yLleA3HuFoJD2fbu0zHiUCBpP9_hhz9qtj35p3fOT9_WgyZ7e8piflpglEu9kBqDb9T8sEslc_VfkFxfixuihEEPTl14XP8xJMV2U=w250-h200-p)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_navigation) Weather satellites are used to monitor weather patterns and track the movement of storms. They are used by meteorologists to predict the weather and issue warnings of severe weather. [![Weather satellites](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bip/AKnpU_ziiw0KZ9PF1nVhqzg-wBCaPrz_ygRfk_b9eJSAH4GH5hHWFtQ-5nNO9ISh9dpNsnQJo4LskDFA_jU9G0GL8IaoiHXRjF-M0pdUQQ3UhDTIMTLhAeOduQnPmSlakdCnFx25l5Wg6fjDD23JaQ=w250-h200-p)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_satellite) Earth observation satellites are used to collect data about the Earth's surface. They are used to monitor changes in the Earth's environment, such as deforestation and climate change. --- Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/94056/how-satellites-are-broadly-classified Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.