# Satellite Networks **Domain:** Technology & Infrastructure **Doc Type:** Concept Node **Classification:** Infrastructure Concept **Maturity:** rapidly advancing **Related:** [[Planetary Sensing]], [[Planetary Sensing Grid]], [[Satellite Sensing Networks]], [[Communication Infrastructure]], [[Remote Sensing]] --- ## Definition **Satellite Networks** denote **constellations of orbiting satellites** linked through communication systems to provide **global coverage of sensing, positioning, communication, or data services**. Modern satellite networks enable **real-time global environmental monitoring, precise positioning, weather forecasting, and distributed data transmission** without dependence on ground infrastructure. Networks range from thousands of small satellites to dozens of large systems, creating redundancy and coverage. --- ## General Context In telecommunications, Earth observation, and positioning, satellite networks represent critical infrastructure enabling global coordination. Recent advances (reusable launch systems, small-satellite technology) have dramatically reduced costs, enabling proliferation of new satellite-based services. --- ## Key Insight Satellite networks eliminate geographic barriers to data collection and communication. This enables unprecedented global coordination but also concentrates surveillance capacity and raises security/privacy concerns. --- ## See Also [[Space Technology]], [[Telecommunications]], [[Earth Observation]], [[Positioning Systems]], [[Global Networks]]