Satellite

This page concerns artificial satellites. For natural satellites, see moon.

Satellites were constructed objects sent into planetary orbit for various reasons.

History

In October 1957, the Soviet Union launched Earth's first artificial satellite Sputnik into space. (AUDIO: Unregenerate!)

Later in the 1950s, the Soviet Union "space dog" Laika was sent into Earth orbit and died in a satellite. (PROSE: Alien Bodies)

In 1959, CIA agents Jerome Weismuller and Hawk were assigned to find a US satellite that had gone haywire. It had been hit by a Nostalgia Tours bus. The Seventh Doctor recovered the satellite and gave it to the agents. (TV: Delta and the Bannermen)

In the 1970s, satellite time was of high value. Richard Dunbar offered the Fourth Doctor ten minutes of satellite communication time with which to contact an Antarctica team. (TV: The Seeds of Doom)

By 2009, Earth had about 5000 satellites, including the Archangel Network and possibly the Guinevere satellites. (TV: The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords, Turn Left)

By 200,000 Earth had five moons, four possibly being artificial and possibly including Satellite Five, which was a space station despite its name. (TV: The Long Game)

Up until 5,000,000,000 the National Trust had used gravity satellites to hold back Sol's expansion, but when money ran out these were turned off. (TV: The End of the World)

Behind the scenes

• Satellites on the lunar surface act as obstacles in Level 3 of the online game Doctor In A Dash where, as with all levels, the Doctor's TARDIS (the player) races against a Dalek flying saucer, a Judoon rocket, and a Slitheen craft to find a Space-Time Manipulator.