Satellites, in accordance with their different functions and missions, can be divided into five categories: scientific satellites are used to conduct scientific research in space; surveillance satellites are used to obtain military intelligence; resource satellites collect information on global resources; weather satellites monitor atmospheric conditions and collect information for meteorological prediction; and finally communication satellites, which are in high demand for their wide range of communication applications.
衛星依照不同的用途或任務，大致可分為五類。從事太空科學研究的科學衛星；偵測國防軍事機密的偵察衛星；從事地球資源調查的資源衛星；此外，還有觀測大氣層，做天氣預報資料的氣象衛星；以及目前運用最廣泛、需求最大的通訊衛星。