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

Unlike classical physics, which predicts precise trajectories for everyday objects such as cricket balls or communications satellites, quantum theory can only predict the likelihood of where a particle might be observed.

From Science Daily

The budget also includes funding for drones and electronic warfare, missiles and new communications satellites.

From The Wall Street Journal

Northrop Grumman has been awarded contracts for prior phases of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, a planned network of missile defense and communications satellites in low Earth orbit.

From Los Angeles Times

For example, Viasat is thinking of spinning off its defense business and it’s launching more communications satellites.

From Barron's