Technology Update

Introduction and Brief History of Satellites

A satellite is any object that orbits another object (which is known as its primary). All masses that are part of the solar system, including the Earth, are satellites either of the Sun, or satellites of those objects, such as the Moon. It is not always a simple matter to decide which is the ’satellite’ in a pair of bodies. Because all objects exert gravity, the motion of the primary object is also affected by the satellite. If two objects are ufficiently similar in mass, they are generally referred to as a binary system rather than a primary object and satellite. The general criterion for an object to be a satellite is that the center of mass of the two objects is inside the primary object. In popular usage, the term ’satellite’ normally refers to an artificial satellite (a man-made object that orbits the Earth or another body).

In May, 1946, the Preliminary Design of an Experimental World-Circling Spaceship stated, “A satellite vehicle with appropriate instrumentation can be expected to be one of the most potent scientific tools of the Twentieth Century. The achievement of a satellite craft would produce repercussions comparable to the explosion of the atomic bomb…”

The space age began in 1946, as scientists began using captured German V-2 rockets to make measurements in the upper atmosphere. Before this period, scientists used balloons that went up to 30 km and radio waves to study the ionosphere. From 1946 to 1952, upper-atmosphere research was conducted using V-2s and Aerobee rockets. This allowed measurements of atmospheric pressure, density, and temperature up to 200 km. The U.S. had been considering launching orbital satellites since 1945 under the Bureau of Aeronautics of the United States Navy. The Air Force’s Project RAND eventually released the above report, but did not believe that the satellite was a potential military weapon; rather they considered it to be a tool for science, politics, and propaganda. Following pressure by the American Rocket Society, the National Science Foundation, and the International Geophysical Year, military interest picked up and in early 1955 the Air Force and Navy were working on Project Orbiter, which involved using a Jupiter C rocket to launch a small satellite called Explorer 1 on January 31, 1958.

On July 29, 1955, the White House announced that the U.S. intended to launch satellites by the spring of 1958. This became known as Project Vanguard. On July 31, the Soviets announced that they intended to launch a satellite by the fall of 1957 and on October 4, 1957 Sputnik I was launched into orbit, which triggered the Space Race between the two nations.

The largest artificial satellite currently orbiting the earth is the International Space Station, which can sometimes be seen with the unaided human eye.

Types of satellites

We see some spark in this current generation of kids. We certainly do and we see some creative geniuses in the group and lots of brilliance too. Many programs in school such as NASA, Legos and Robotic Contests are getting those little minds thinking away. What else can we do to keep them thinking and foster this curiosity and creative spark?

If we are going to “teach kids to think” so they can help the next generation work towards a better future in every regard then we ought to do so. If we use the TV and proper moral social conditioning; and plan to accomplish this then aren’t you in fact going to have these kids sit in front of a TV learning? And we know that too much TV makes people fat and keeps them from exercising.

If we use the TV as our only tool to teach kids to think then all we will really be doing is changing their programming, so the little humans will be better citizens and move to make the Utopia that our generation miserably failed to do. So where as this is a decent concept; aren’t we passing the buck a little? After all even now we are trying to accomplish this with little regard to hard work ethic, commitment and generally piss poor performance? So basically if we teach kids to think about and eventually create a better society via better TV programming in a way we are “telling” the next generation what to do rather then showing them thru example. Thus using TV social programming to brainwash them. If we are going to use such a method to secure a moral next generation to lead the human race forward then shouldn’t we be leading by example in the present period too? You see even Rhodes had led by example. Anyway the TV is a good powerful visualization tool for teaching, but we need to get it right this time. Think on this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

To believe this one should watch both of them and feel the difference on their own. The quality of picture and sound are of high quality which gives you ultimate excitement and satisfaction while watching your favorite programs. Digital TV compresses images which help to broadcast multiple channels at a same band width. Whereas Analog which is generally called as SDTV uses magnetic waves to transmit and display pictures and sound which has been traditionally used. The special features available in Digital TV is surround sound, crystal clear pictures, sharper pictures which is all requires for the latest evolution of television the High Definition Television.

Compared to the analog the SDTV is significant as it provides more channels from the same station. If you observe the analog broad casting you will find that it is a hassle the capacity to accommodate only a few stations. Where as with digital it contains more information than the analog.

If you already have an analog set and wish to upgrade it to a digital one its possible by using digital tuner decoder though it will display the high quality pictures as provided by the original digital sets. In today’s market you find digital quality sets are available and the best news is that their prices have decreased.

The cable providers always do not supply with digital cables which digital signals. As such cables do not meet the standards when a digital cable is connected to a digital TV it will receive only analog signal, thus eliminating the advantages of a digital television. A solution for this is the digital quality pictures provided by satellite service providers.

Digital TV is used for the latest innovation in entertainment the HDTV. Here you get to watch pictures in a wider screen with more clarity than in analog sets. The picture quality and the audio clarity are far better as compared with the analog.

If this revolution from analog to digital continues what about consumers who have analog system is a question which ponders the minds of many.For this a transition period has been set up and that is through the year 2006. If necessity requires then that can be extended too.

Mitchell Medford is an author and product consultant for several consumer electronics manufacturers. Visit his websites for more information on HDTV and satellite TV.