Countless artificial satellites dart through space.
Humanity has launched numerous artificial objects into space, such as satellites, space probes, and space stations. The first satellite ever launched was the famous Sputnik 1 in 1957. As of December 2021, there were over 12,000 registered artificial satellites, and in recent years, it is said that over 1,000 new satellites are added each year.
The International Space Station: A Joint Project of Five Countries
The International Space Station is the largest artificial satellite orbiting the Earth in low orbit. Its average altitude is about 400 km, and it takes less than 4 hours to travel from Earth to the satellite. It completes approximately 15.5 orbits around the Earth in a day and can sometimes be seen as a slow-moving point among the stars, even with the naked eye.
This inhabitable artificial satellite, the International Space Station, is a joint project involving the United States, Russia, Japan, Europe, and Canada. While conflicts between nations persist on Earth, it seems that they get along well in space.
In recent years, there has been much discussion about space stations on the Moon, and it is also desirable for cooperation to take place there.
Date: April 26, 2023.