Discuss “How Things Work: Satellites”

A satellite, by definition, is any object that orbits another object in space.

When one thinks of a satellite, the picture that comes most readily to mind is that of a man-made satellite — a contraption of steel and electronic devices with large, signature solar foils extending from each side.

In fact, the average human being interacts with a dozen different satellites everyday.

From Internet and television to cell phones and Global Positioning System (GPS) trackers, many devices rely on satellites to operate.

Satellites are a relatively recent invention. The first man-made satellite, Sputnik, was launched by the Soviet Union 50 years ago, an event that marked the beginning of the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Today,...