03 03 communication u2a

Module

2A

Outer Space

Nowadays, the entire world can learn about and be
updated with any event that happens in any place in
real time. The use of the Internet is a perfect example
of this accessibility and this is possible due to
communication satellite, usually abbreviated COMSAT.
It consists of an artificial satellite located in space for
communication purposes —receiving, amplifying and
retransmitting signals.
Satellites are placed in different orbits according to
the specific need of communication. For example, a
satellite in a geostationary orbit takes the same time
as the Earth’s period of rotation to revolve — that is,
to move around the orbit. For this reason, the satellite
appears to be in a fixed position when you can observe
it from the Earth. Arthur Clarke was the first to propose
the concept of geostationary satellite, but he based his
work on previously conceived ideas.
On October 4, 1957, the Soviets launched the first
artificial non-communication satellite, Sputnik 1. One
year later, the United States followed the Russians
and launched Project SCORE — which was the first
communication satellite— and the US president sent
a Christmas greeting to the world. In 1960, NASA

launched a satellite, Echo, which served as a passive

reflector for radio communications. The first truly
geostationary satellite was the Syncom 3, launched on
August 19, 1964. That year, it broadcast the Summer
Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, to the United States.
These were the first Olympic Games to be transmitted
internationally. However, it was the Relay 1 satellite that
made the first television transmission across the Pacific
Ocean, from the United States to Japan, on November
22, 1963.
The use of satellites rapidly evolved and they became
necessary tools for modern life. Today, services not
only include radio and television. Satellites also enable
ship, aircraft and military communications as well as
GPS car navigation. In addition to this, they transmit
telephone signals and make weather forecast more
accurate, among other applications.

Activities
1Read the text and decide if the sentences are true (T) or false (F).
Correct the false sentences.
aGeostationary satellites always stay in the same place in space.

bNASA launched the first satellite.

c Syncom 3 was the first geostationary satellite.

dThe first television transmission occurred in 1964.

eNowadays, communication satellite is very useful.

English Toolkit 1 - Communication

Photocopiable © Ediciones Santillana S.A. / Richmond 2011

Communication Satellite


Module

2A
2Draw a timeline showing the evolution of communication satellite.
Type of satellite

first communication
satellite
1964

3Memory challenge! Look at the timeline and

When did the Soviets launch the first satellite?
Was the first television transmission in 1964?

4Complete the sentences with comparatives
to learn more about satellites.
aWhen a satellite is launched at a
(great)
altitude, it takes
(long) to complete one orbit.
b By 1965, the number of satellites in space became much
(great) than previous years.

c Satellites are now
(small) the early versions.
d Satellites are
(reliable) fibre-optic cable.

5Science Fair! Invent a satellite for a specific use. Look for information
about satellites and their parts in different sources. Make your own
model and label it. Explain how the satellite works.

English Toolkit 1 - Communication

Photocopiable © Ediciones Santillana S.A. / Richmond 2011

write three questions using the Simple Past.
Your partner has to answer them without
looking at the information.