Satellite Types

A satellite is a spacecraft placed in orbit to carry payloads for services or scientific measurements. Satellite type is decided mainly by mission objective and payload (what the satellite carries and measures), and by orbit and ground segment.

Satellite Concepts

India’s satellite portfolio is organised around major national service goals: communication, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, and space science.

  • Payload defines the satellite type:
    • Communication payloads relay signals;
    • remote sensing payloads image/measure Earth;
    • navigation payloads broadcast timing/ranging signals;
    • meteorological payloads observe weather and oceans; and
    • science payloads observe space phenomena.
  • Communication and meteorology often use geostationary orbit for continuous regional view; many Earth ....
Do You Want to Read More?
Subscribe Now
To get access to detailed content
Buy March 2026 Issue

Already a Member? Login here

Take Annual Subscription and get the following Advantage
The annual members of the Civil Services Chronicle can read the monthly content of the magazine as well as the Chronicle magazine archives.
Readers can study all the material before the last six months of the Civil Services Chronicle monthly issue in the form of Chronicle magazine archives.
Be an Annual Subscriber

Related Content

Science & Technology