Outline of artificial satellites

Artificial satellites are human-made spacecraft placed into orbit around Earth or another celestial body. They are distinct from natural satellites such as moons, and from space probes that travel beyond Earth orbit or between planetary bodies. Artificial satellites operate as part of wider satellite systems that may include a satellite bus, payload, ground segment, launch vehicle, tracking network, and regulatory framework.

Artificial satellites are used for communications, navigation, Earth observation, weather monitoring, scientific research, military support, intelligence gathering, astronomy, and technology demonstration. They occupy many types of orbits, including low Earth orbit, medium Earth orbit, geostationary orbit, Sun-synchronous orbit, polar orbit, highly elliptical orbit, Lagrange-point orbits, and orbits around the Moon, Mars, and other Solar System bodies.