Satellite phone

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/satellite-phone

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is a satellite phone and how does it work?A satellite phone talks directly to satellites in space instead of ground towers. It sends a signal to the nearest satellite, which relays it to another satellite or a ground station, and then to the regular phone network.
2. Why does a satellite phone need a clear line of sight to the satellite?Satellite signals travel in straight lines and can’t go around obstacles. If trees, buildings, or mountains block the view, the phone can’t connect.

Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN): The global network of telephone lines, fiber-optic cables, and cellular systems used for voice communication.
Gateway (Earth Station): A ground-based facility that connects satellite communication systems to terrestrial networks.
Latency: The delay in data transfer between the sender and receiver, often noticeable in satellite communication due to distance.