Sputnik 1
Explore Sputnik 1, the world’s first artificial satellite that ignited the space age. Learn about its historic mission, design, and impact.
Satellites & Orbiters
Satellites and orbiters are basically machines we send into space to circle around a planet, moon, or even the Earth itself. The whole magic of satellites and orbiters comes down to orbit itself. They need to be traveling at just the right speed to balance between the pull of gravity and their own inertia so they don’t fall back down or drift away. Let’s explore the universe’s secrets with these artificial moons that help us achieve better communication, navigation, and scientific observation from above.
The Difference Between
Satellites and Orbiters
Satellites are a bit of an umbrella term here. Anything we send into orbit, whether it’s for communication, observation, or research, falls into this category. For example, the satellites you rely on for Google Maps or streaming Netflix are orbiting the Earth right now, constantly beaming signals down to us. They’re usually designed to last years, silently doing their thing up there while spinning at crazy speeds to maintain their positions.
Orbiters, on the other hand, are more specific. These are satellites we send to orbit other celestial bodies, like Mars or Jupiter. They’re like dedicated scouts or observers that circle a planet (or moon) over and over again, gathering detailed info. Unlike landers or rovers that physically touch down, orbiters stay in space and give us the bird’s-eye view.
The First Ones
The first satellites and orbiters were groundbreaking machines that marked the beginning of humanity’s journey into space.
In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, which orbited Earth and sent simple radio signals back home. It was a small, metallic sphere, but it made history by proving we could send objects into space. Soon after, the U.S. joined the race with Explorer 1 in 1958, which collected scientific data about Earth’s radiation belts. These early satellites paved the way for orbiters, machines designed to explore other planets, like Mariner 2, which flew to Venus in 1962. Together, these groundbreaking missions set the stage for the space exploration we know today.
Explorer 1
Explore Explorer 1, America’s first satellite in Earth’s orbit. Learn about its historic mission, design, and groundbreaking discoveries.
Pioneer 1
Explore Pioneer 1, NASA’s first spacecraft launched to study the space environment beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Lunik 1 Lunar Lander
Learn about Lunik 1, the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon in 1959. Discover its design and mission objectives.
Vanguard 1
Vanguard 1, launched by the United States on March 17, 1958, was the fourth artificial Earth-orbiting satellite to ever be launched.
All Satellites & Orbiters
The first satellites and orbiters were groundbreaking machines that marked the beginning of humanity’s journey into space.
In 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, which orbited Earth and sent simple radio signals back home. It was a small, metallic sphere, but it made history by proving we could send objects into space. Soon after, the U.S. joined the race with Explorer 1 in 1958, which collected scientific data about Earth’s radiation belts. These early satellites paved the way for orbiters, machines designed to explore other planets, like Mariner 2, which flew to Venus in 1962. Together, these groundbreaking missions set the stage for the space exploration we know today.
Sputnik 2
Explore Sputnik 2, the historic spacecraft that carried the first living creature into space, and learn about its mission and design.
Astérix Satellite
Explore Astérix, France’s first independent satellite launched into Earth’s orbit, including its historic mission, design, and contributions.
CubeSat
Discover CubeSats, miniature satellites revolutionizing space exploration with their versatility and affordability.
Voyager 1
Discover Voyager 1, the iconic spacecraft exploring the depths of interstellar space. Learn about its historic mission and discoveries.
Voyager 2
Explore Voyager 2, the intrepid spacecraft journeying through the outer solar system and beyond. Learn about its mission and discoveries.
Michibiki Satellite System
Discover the Michibiki Satellite System, Japan’s contribution to global navigation. Learn about its role in accuracy and applications.
Pioneer 0
Learn about Pioneer 0, NASA’s early attempt to explore the Moon with the first lunar flyby mission, its mission objectives, and legacy.
Pioneer 2
Discover Pioneer 2, NASA’s early mission to study cosmic rays and magnetic fields in space. Learn about its objectives and design.
Pioneer 3
Explore Pioneer 3, NASA’s early mission to study the space environment around the Moon. Learn about its objectives, design, and contributions.
Pioneer 4
Discover Pioneer 4, the first spacecraft to escape Earth’s gravitational pull and travel to lunar vicinity.
Pioneer Venus Orbiter
Explore the Pioneer Venus Orbiter, a spacecraft that revolutionized our understanding of Venus’s atmosphere, surface, and ionosphere.
Pioneer Venus Multiprobe
Discover the Pioneer Venus Multiprobe mission, a groundbreaking effort to explore Venus’s atmosphere and surface.
Interstellar Boundary Explorer
Explore the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX), a NASA spacecraft mapping the boundary between our solar system and interstellar space.
Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe
Learn about the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), a NASA spacecraft set to explore the outer boundaries of the heliosphere.
Advanced Composition Explorer
Explore the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE), a NASA spacecraft studying solar and cosmic particles to better understand space weather.
Viking 1
Explore the groundbreaking Viking 1 mission, the first spacecraft to successfully land on Mars, conducting scientific experiments.
Viking 2
Explore Viking 2, the pioneering spacecraft that soft-landed on Mars, conducting scientific experiments and providing valuable insights.
ESA SMART-1
Discover SMART-1, ESA’s innovative spacecraft that tested solar-electric propulsion and conducted scientific observations of the Moon.
OSIRIS-REx
OSIRIS-REx is NASA’s spacecraft on a mission to study the asteroid Bennu and return a sample to Earth. Learn about its design and objectives.
SBIRS (Space-Based Infrared System)
SBIRS is a space-based infrared system providing early warning of missile launches, enhancing national security and defense capabilities.
KH-11 KENNEN
KH-11 KENNEN is a highly classified reconnaissance satellite providing high-resolution optical imagery for intelligence gathering.
Lacrosse / Onyx Satellites
Advanced reconnaissance satellites equipped with radar imaging technology for all-weather surveillance and intelligence gathering.
Yaogan Satellite
Discover the role and capabilities of China’s Yaogan satellite series in enhancing national security and defense through advanced technology.
USA-224 or NROL-49
Learn about USA-224 (NROL-15), a classified reconnaissance satellite operated by the National Reconnaissance Office.
Hiten Lunar Probe Spacecraft
Explore Japan’s first lunar exploration mission with the Hiten Lunar Probe, showcasing the country’s capabilities in space exploration.
Selene / Kaguya Lunar Orbiter
Explore Japan’s first lunar exploration mission with the Hiten Lunar Probe, showcasing the country’s capabilities in space exploration.
OMOTENASHI Spacecraft
Explore the OMOTENASHI spacecraft, a collaborative effort by JAXA and international partners to study space weather and its impact on Earth.
Foton Spacecraft & Satellite
Explore the Foton spacecraft, a pioneering platform for scientific research in microgravity. Learn about its design and mission objectives.
Zenit Reconnaissance Satellite
Explore the history and significance of the Zenit satellites, key players in Cold War reconnaissance. Learn about their design and missions.
Tselina Electronic Intelligence Satellite
Discover the Tselina electronic intelligence satellite, a key player in Cold War espionage. Learn about its impact on intelligence gathering.
Alouette I Satellite
Learn about Canada’s pioneering satellite mission, Alouette I, which revolutionized our understanding of the ionosphere.
ISIS 1 & 2 Satellites
The International Satellites for Ionospheric Studies (ISIS) 1 and 2 were a pair of scientific satellites launched in 1969 and 1971.
RADARSAT Constellation
Discover the RADARSAT Constellation, Canada’s trio of Earth observation satellites, providing high-resolution radar imagery.
MOST Telescope Spacecraft
Explore the MOST spacecraft, Canada’s pioneering space telescope dedicated to studying stellar variability and exoplanets.
SCISAT-1 Satellite
Discover SCISAT-1, Canada’s Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment satellite, dedicated to studying Earth’s atmosphere’s chemical composition.
NEOSat Satellite
Explore NEOSat, Canada’s Near-Earth Object Surveillance Satellite, launched in 2013 to detect and track asteroids and comets.
Sapphire Space Surveillance Satellite
Discover Sapphire, Canada’s Space Surveillance Satellite, launched in 2013 to track and monitor objects in Earth’s orbit.
CanX Satellite Series
Explore the CanX Satellite series, a constellation of Canadian nanosatellites developed by the University of Toronto.
Anik Satellite
Discover the Anik satellite series, a cornerstone of Canadian telecommunications providing reliable communication since the 1970s,
CASSIOPE Satellites
Explore the Cassiope satellites, Canadian spacecraft pioneers in ionospheric research and space weather monitoring.
AstroSat Satellite
Explore AstroSat, India’s first multi-wavelength space observatory satellite, revolutionizing our understanding of high-energy phenomena.
XPoSat Satellite
Explore XPoSat, India’s pioneering X-ray Polarimeter Satellite, unlocking the secrets of the universe’s most energetic phenomena.
Spot Satellite
Discover the SPOT satellite series, France’s premier Earth observation satellites, renowned for their high-resolution imaging capabilities.
Jason-1 Satellite
Discover the Jason-1 satellite, a groundbreaking mission that revolutionized our understanding of global sea level rise and ocean dynamics.
Galileo Navigation Satellites
Discover the Galileo Navigation Satellites, Europe’s advanced global positioning system, known for high precision and reliability.
Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO)
Discover the Mercury Planetary Orbiter, part of ESA’s BepiColombo mission, designed to study Mercury’s surface, geology, and magnetic field.
Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO)
Explore the MMO, part of JAXA and ESA’s BepiColombo mission, designed to study Mercury’s magnetosphere and solar winds.
Akatsuki Venus Climate Orbiter
The Akatsuki spacecraft, also known as the Venus Climate Orbiter or Planet-C, is a Japanese space probe launched by JAXA to study Venus.
New Horizons Space Probe
New Horizons is a NASA space probe launched in 2006 with the primary mission of exploring Pluto and the outer regions of our solar system.
Rocket Lab Ātea
The neutron is a new medium-lift, two-stage launch vehicle which will be human-rated and designed for reusability.
Chang’e 1 Lunar Orbiter
Chang’e 1 was China’s first spacecraft to explore the Moon, launched in 2007 to study its surface, environment, and composition.
Chang’e 5 Lunar Sample Return
Chang’e 5 was a Chinese lunar sample return mission launched on November 23, 2020. It had an orbiter, a lander, an ascender, and a returner.
San Marco 1 Satellite
San Marco 1 was Italy’s first satellite and marked a historic milestone in its space exploration efforts. It was launched in 1964.
BeppoSAX Satellite
BeppoSAX was an Italian–Dutch satellite dedicated to X-ray astronomy, particularly gamma-ray bursts (GRBs).
AGILE Satellite
AGILE (Astro-Rivelatore Gamma a Immagini LEggero) was an Italian X-ray and gamma-ray astronomical satellite launched in 2007.