AI EncyclopediaFirst steps3/5
First steps in space
A guide for complete beginners
Space technology uses rockets to lift satellites and spacecraft up for communication, observation and exploration.
Why everyone is talking about it
In the past, countries led space development. Now private companies also build rockets and run businesses like satellite internet. A big turning point was reusing rockets that used to be thrown away after one flight, which cut the cost of getting to space by a lot.
As a result, thousands of satellites are launched to provide internet, satellites photograph the Earth often to watch farming, disasters and climate, and plans to send people to the Moon and Mars again are moving forward.
The big picture
- Launch vehicleA rocket carries a satellite or spacecraft up into space.
- OrbitIt moves sideways fast enough that it does not fall back, and it keeps circling the Earth along a path.
- Satellite or spacecraftIt does its job, such as communication, Earth observation, or carrying people and cargo.
- Ground stationAntennas on the ground exchange signals with it, download data and send up commands.
- UsesIt leads to satellite internet, weather and maps, positioning, and science missions.
How a satellite goes up and gets used, shortened to five steps.
Six ideas to know
Read them in this order and the news gets much easier. Each one opens its encyclopedia entry.
- Launch vehicleThe rocket that carries a satellite or spacecraft from the ground into space.
- Reusable rocketA rocket that is not thrown away after one launch. It comes back, lands, and is flown again.
- OrbitThe path along which a satellite keeps circling the Earth without falling down.
- Low Earth orbit (LEO)The region of space close to Earth, from the ground up to a height of 2,000 km.
- Satellite internetInternet that connects through satellites in the sky instead of base stations on the ground.
- Space debrisObjects left drifting in orbit, such as dead satellites, discarded rocket pieces and broken fragments.
Common misunderstandings
MythSpace is so far away that it is hard to get to.
In fact The International Space Station is about 400 km above the ground. In distance alone, that is about the distance between two big cities a few hours apart by train. The hard part is speed, not height. To stay at that height, you have to circle the Earth at about 7.7 km per second.
MythSatellites hang still in one place in the sky.
In fact Most satellites circle the Earth fast. A satellite that seems to stay in one place is in geostationary orbit, about 36,000 km up, where it goes around at the same pace as the Earth turns.
MythThere is no gravity in space.
In fact At the height of the space station, gravity is still close to 90% of what it is on the ground. People seem to float because the station and everyone in it are falling toward the Earth while moving sideways very fast.
Who to watch now
Products with the highest LastAI Index
- 1StarlinkIndex 43
- 2StarshipIndex 39
- 3NASA ArtemisIndex 34
- 4New GlennIndex 29
- 5NeutronIndex 25
The LastAI Index measures how widely something is used and known, from public data. It is recalculated every 15 minutes and is not a measure of quality or investment value. See the full ranking
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Where to go next
This guide was written by AI and checked again for accuracy before publishing, and the English edition is translated from the Korean guide. Rankings change quickly, so they are not written into the text; 'Who to watch now' shows the LastAI Index as it is. Tell us if something is wrong. Report an errorLast updated