(じんこうえいせい)

じんこうえいせい
noun
artificial satellite
1. artificial satellite
A man-made object placed in orbit around the Earth or another celestial body, used for communication, observation, navigation, and scientific research.
人工衛星(じんこうえいせい)()()げた。
They launched an artificial satellite.
GPS信号(しんごう)人工衛星(じんこうえいせい)から(おく)られている。
GPS signals are transmitted from artificial satellites.
地球(ちきゅう)(まわ)りには数千(すうせん)もの人工衛星(じんこうえいせい)軌道(きどう)(まわ)っている。
Thousands of artificial satellites are orbiting around the Earth.

Compound of 人工(じんこう) (artificial) + 衛星(えいせい) (satellite). Often shortened to 衛星(えいせい) when the context is clear.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 人工衛星(じんこうえいせい)()()げる (to launch a satellite)
  • 気象(きしょう)衛星(えいせい) (weather satellite)
  • 通信(つうしん)衛星(えいせい) (communications satellite)
  • 偵察(ていさつ)衛星(えいせい) (reconnaissance satellite)
  • 衛星(えいせい)軌道(きどう) (satellite orbit)

USAGE NOTES:
In everyday conversation, 衛星(えいせい) alone is often sufficient when referring to artificial satellites. The full form 人工衛星(じんこうえいせい) is used to distinguish from 天然(てんねん)衛星(えいせい) (natural satellites, such as the Moon).