difference between active and passive satellite in wikipedia
Communications satellite
There are two major classes of communications satellites , passive and active . Passive satellites only reflect the signal coming from the source , toward the direction of the receiver . With passive satellites , the reflected signal is not amplified at the satellite , and only a very small amount of the transmitted energy actually reaches the receiver . Since the satellite is so far above Earth , the radio signal is attenuated due to free - space path loss , so the signal received on Earth is very , very weak . Active satellites , on the other hand , amplify the received signal before retransmitting it to the receiver on the ground . Passive satellites were the first communications satellites , but are little used now . Telstar was the second active , direct relay communications satellite . Belonging to AT&T as part of a multi-national agreement between AT&T , Bell Telephone Laboratories , NASA , the British General Post Office , and the French National PTT ( Post Office ) to develop satellite communications , it was launched by NASA from Cape Canaveral on July 10 , 1962 , in the first privately sponsored space launch . Relay 1 was launched on December 13 , 1962 , and it became the first satellite to transmit across the Pacific Ocean on November 22 , 1963 . 
There are two major classes of communications satellites , passive and active . Passive satellites only reflect the signal coming from the source , toward the direction of the receiver . With passive satellites , the reflected signal is not amplified at the satellite , and only a very small amount of the transmitted energy actually reaches the receiver . Since the satellite is so far above Earth , the radio signal is attenuated due to free - space path loss , so the signal received on Earth is very , very weak . Active satellites , on the other hand , amplify the received signal before retransmitting it to the receiver on the ground . Passive satellites were the first communications satellites , but are little used now . Telstar was the second active , direct relay communications satellite . Belonging to AT&T as part of a multi-national agreement between AT&T , Bell Telephone Laboratories , NASA , the British General Post Office , and the French National PTT ( Post Office ) to develop satellite communications , it was launched by NASA from Cape Canaveral on July 10 , 1962 , in the first privately sponsored space launch . Relay 1 was launched on December 13 , 1962 , and it became the first satellite to transmit across the Pacific Ocean on November 22 , 1963 .
Active satellites amplify the received signal before retransmitting it to the receiver on the ground, while passive satellites do not amplify the signal and only a very small amount of the transmitted energy actually reaches the receiver.
With passive satellites , the reflected signal is not amplified at the satellite , and only a very small amount of the transmitted energy actually reaches the receiver . Active satellites , on the other hand , amplify the received signal before retransmitting it to the receiver on the ground .
Active satellites amplify the received signal before transmitting it to the receiver on the ground. With passive satellites, the reflected signal is not amplified at the satellite - only a very small amount of transmitted energy reaches the receiver.
With passive satellites , the reflected signal is not amplified at the satellite , and only a very small amount of the transmitted energy actually reaches the receiver . Active satellites , on the other hand , amplify the received signal before retransmitting it to the receiver on the ground .