A satellite is basically any object that revolves around a planet in a circular or elliptical path. The moon is Earth's original, natural satellite, and there are many man-made, or artificial satellites, usually closer to Earth. The path a satellite follows is an orbit . In the orbit, the farthest point from Earth is the apogee , and the nearest point is the perigee . Artificial satellites generally are not mass-produced.
Most satellites are custom built to perform their intended functions.
The actual number varies depending on which agency is counting. Payloads that go into the wrong orbit, satellites with run-down batteries, and leftover rocket boosters all contribute to the count. We commonly hear about weather satellites, communication satellites, scientific satellites, and so on. According to this list, there are 80 satellite launches scheduled in the year 2000. Many launches are on this extended worldwide launch forecast .