What is an artificial satellite?

An artificial satellite is a human-made object launched into orbit around Earth or another celestial body. Unlike natural satellites like the Moon, artificial ones are designed for specific purposes such as communication, navigation, weather monitoring, scientific research, and military surveillance. These satellites remain in orbit due to a balance between gravitational pull and their orbital speed. The first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957. Since then, thousands of satellites have been deployed, enabling technologies like GPS, TV broadcasting, internet connectivity, and climate data collection essential for modern life.