communications satellite

American  

noun

1. an artificial earth satellite that facilitates communications, as radio, television, and telephone transmissions, by means of the reflection or the amplification and retransmission of signals between stations on earth or in space.

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communications satellite British  

noun

1. an artificial satellite used to relay radio, television, and telephone signals around the earth, usually in geostationary orbit

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Etymology

Origin of communications satellite

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

And he saw this as a chance to bring in researchers—Shockley, Gerald Pearson, John Pierce and others—who later worked on the transistor, the solar cell and the first communications satellite.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

The LVM3-M6 rocket launched the US-built AST SpaceMobile communications satellite into low-Earth orbit.

From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025

A communications satellite designed and built by embattled aerospace giant Boeing has broken up in orbit.

From BBC • Oct. 22, 2024

Space Force canceled a multibillion-dollar program to build a new military communications satellite because of rising costs and delays in its development, Bloomberg News reported.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 15, 2024

SpaceX, meanwhile, was contracted to launch Turksat 6A, Turkey's first domestically produced communications satellite — although the launch date has been delayed and the project now appears uncertain.

From Salon • May 16, 2023