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Satellites and Space Probes

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Satellites and Space Probes

Read the briefing, then complete the mission tasks. Use evidence from the briefing to explain your answers.

Two ways to explore space

Satellites are objects found in space. Earth has a natural satellite—the Moon—and people have placed many artificial satellites in orbit around Earth. A satellite moves forward quickly while Earth’s gravity pulls it towards Earth. Together, these motions make it continually fall around Earth rather than straight down. Once in a suitable orbit, it does not need its engines running all the time. Satellites can carry cameras and sensors. Weather satellites track clouds and storms; Earth-observation satellites collect information about land, oceans and ice; and navigation satellites send signals that help receivers work out their location. Satellites can also relay communications. Their data can help people make decisions, but measurements need to be checked and interpreted because sensor measurements can be incomplete or affected by how they are collected. A space probe is a robotic spacecraft sent to investigate space. It may fly past, orbit or land on a planet, moon or other object. Probes carry instruments to gather information and send it back using radio signals. They can explore places that would be difficult or dangerous for people to visit. A probe travelling far from Earth may take a long time to send its data home.

Mission tasks

Use the briefing to solve each task.

1.A satellite is best described as an object that…

always travels around Earth
travels around a larger object
can only be seen at night
must carry people

2.Explain how forward motion and Earth’s gravity help an artificial satellite stay in orbit.

3.A forecaster needs to track a storm developing over the ocean. Which kind of satellite data from the briefing would be most useful, and why?

4.True or false: Once a satellite is in a suitable orbit, its engines must run constantly to keep it there.

TrueFalse

5.Complete the sentence: A robotic spacecraft sent to investigate space is called a space .

6.Match each mission need with the most suitable technology or data type.

Track clouds and storms
Help a receiver work out its location
Investigate a distant planet

Navigation satellite
Weather satellite
Space probe

7.A team wants to learn about the surface of a distant moon without sending people there. Which spacecraft is the better choice, and give one reason.

8.Choose the best example of a use for navigation satellite signals.

A receiver working out where it is
A probe collecting a rock sample
A camera measuring ocean ice directly
A rocket launching from Earth

9.Why might scientists need to wait a long time for information from a probe exploring far from Earth?

10.A satellite records measurements of ice over several years. Explain one way this information could help scientists and one reason they should check or interpret the measurements carefully.

11.A classmate says, “Every satellite is an artificial spacecraft built by people.” Use the briefing to correct this statement.