Saturday, July 26, 2008

Satellite Elements

The payload is all the equipment a satellite needs to do its job. This can include antennas, cameras, radar, and electronics. The payload is different for every satellite. For example, the payload for a weather satellite includes cameras to take pictures of cloud formations, while the payload for a communications satellite includes large antennas to transmit TV or telephone signals to Earth.

The bus is the part of the satellite that carries the payload and all its equipment into space. It holds all the satellite's parts together and provides electrical power,computers, and propulsion to the spacecraft. The bus also contains equipment that allows the satellite to communicate with Earth.

Check out Satellite Anatomy for more information about what makes a satellite work.

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