Satellites, Telescopes, and Rovers in Space Exploration
What Are Satellites, Telescopes, and Rovers, and How Do They Help Explore Space?
Satellites, telescopes, and rovers are some of the most important tools that scientists use to observe, study, and explore space. Each of them plays a unique role in helping us learn more about the universe—from Earth’s orbit to distant planets.
1. Satellites
What are they? Satellites are machines that orbit planets or other celestial bodies. Some orbit Earth, others orbit Mars, the Moon, or even the Sun.
Types:
- Natural satellites: e.g. the Moon
- Artificial satellites: Human-made for science and communication
Uses of Satellites:
- Weather observation – e.g. NOAA, INSAT
- Navigation – GPS, NavIC
- Earth imaging – Cartosat, Landsat
- Planetary study – Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
Famous Examples:
- Hubble Space Telescope – Views deep space
- Aditya-L1 – India’s first solar mission (2023)
- Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter – Studies the Moon
2. Telescopes
What are they? Telescopes are instruments that collect light or signals to see far-off space objects. Some are placed on Earth, others are launched into space.
Types of Telescopes:
- Optical telescopes – See visible light (e.g. Hubble)
- Radio telescopes – Catch radio waves (e.g. FAST)
- Infrared/X-ray/Gamma-ray telescopes – Detect other forms of space energy
Famous Telescopes:
- Hubble Space Telescope
- James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
- FAST – World’s largest radio telescope (China)
What They Do:
- Discover stars, galaxies, exoplanets
- Study black holes and cosmic events
- Learn how the universe began
3. Rovers
What are they? Rovers are robotic vehicles that land on planets or moons and move around to collect information.
Tasks:
- Take pictures
- Drill into soil and rock
- Analyse samples and send results to Earth
Famous Rovers:
- Curiosity – On Mars since 2012
- Perseverance – Landed in 2021 on Mars
- Zhurong – China’s Mars rover
- Pragyan – India's Moon rover (Chandrayaan-3, 2023)
- Yutu-2 – China's lunar far side rover
How They Help Explore Space
| Tool |
What It Does |
Examples |
| Satellite |
Orbits and collects data |
Aditya-L1, Cartosat, GPS |
| Telescope |
Views distant space objects |
Hubble, JWST, FAST |
| Rover |
Explores planet/moon surfaces |
Curiosity, Pragyan, Perseverance |
Summary
Satellites orbit planets and collect data. Telescopes help us see far into space. Rovers explore other planets and moons. Together, they help us learn more about space and prepare for future missions.
