🛰️ Step-by-Step: How Satellites Are Made
1. Designing the Satellite
Engineers decide the satellite’s purpose: communication, weather monitoring, GPS, or scientific research.
The design includes:
Bus (main body): holds electronics, batteries, and computers.
2. Building the Structure
Made from lightweight but strong materials like aluminum or carbon fiber.
Must survive extreme temperatures (from very hot in sunlight to freezing in shadow).
3. Adding Power Systems
Solar panels collect energy from the Sun.
Batteries store power for when the satellite is in Earth’s shadow.
4. Communication Equipment
Antennas send signals back to Earth.
Computers onboard process data and control movement.
5. Testing on Earth
Satellites undergo vibration tests (to simulate rocket launch).
Thermal vacuum chambers mimic space conditions.
Payload (mission equipment): cameras, antennas, or sensors.
6. Launch and Deployment
Packed inside a rocket.
Once in orbit, solar panels unfold and antennas activate.
Ground stations start receiving signals.
