In context of spaceflight, a satellite is an artificial object which has been intentionally placed into orbit. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as Earth's Moon.

In 1957 the Soviet Union launched the world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1. Since then, about 6,600 satellites from more than 40 countries have been launched. According to a 2013 estimate, 3,600 remained in orbit. Of those, about 1,000 were operational; while the rest have lived out their useful lives and became space debris. Approximately 500 operational satellites are in low-Earth orbit, 50 are in medium-Earth orbit (at 20,000km), and the rest are in geostationary orbit (at 36,000km). A few large satellites have been launched in parts and assembled in orbit. Over a dozen space probes have been placed into orbit around other bodies and become artificial satellites to the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, a few asteroids, and the Sun.

Satellites are used for many purposes. Common types include military and civilian Earth observation satellites, communications satellites, navigation satellites, weather satellites, and space telescopes. Space stations and human spacecraft in orbit are also satellites. Satellite orbits vary greatly, depending on the purpose of the satellite, and are classified in a number of ways. Well-known (overlapping) classes include low Earth orbit, polar orbit, and geostationary orbit.

1. what is a satellite?
2. what did the soviet union do in 1957
3. what was it called?
4. how many satellites are in orbit?
5. What planets do they orbit around?
6. do they ever become debris?
7. how fast do they go
8. what are satellites used for?
9. such as?
10. and what else?

Provide a numbered list of answers.
1. an artificial object which has been intentionally placed into orbit.
2. launched the world's first artificial satellite
3. Sputnik 1
4. 3,600
5. Earth , Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,
6. Yes
7. unknown
8. many purposes
9. military and civilian Earth observation
10. communications