Satellite Industry Association Announces Jenner & Block as its Newest Member
Washington, D.C., May 21, 2025 – The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) today announced that law firm Jenner & Block is the newest member of SIA.... Read More
What is the Satellite Industry Association?
The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) is a United States-based trade association providing representation of the leading domestic satellite operators, service providers, manufacturers, launch services providers, and ground equipment suppliers. Since 1995, SIA has advocated on behalf of the commercial U.S. satellite industry on policy, regulatory, and legislative issues affecting the satellite business. SIA is a recognized focal point for the U.S. satellite industry in Washington, DC, representing and advocating industry positions with key policy makers on Capitol Hill and with the White House, Federal Communications Commission and key Executive Branch departments and agencies.
What is a Satellite?
An object that orbits a planet, star or other celestial body is called a satellite. There are two types of satellites – natural and artificial. Natural satellites include objects such as the Earth’s Moon which orbits the Earth, or even asteroids which may orbit larger asteroids. SIA, however, focuses on artificial satellites and specifically those which orbit the Earth.
Artificial satellites are manufactured machines, some the size of a city bus, while cubesats are as small as a loaf of bread and other satellites may be as small as a cracker. As of the end of 2023, there were 10,000 satellites operating in Earth orbit and they are being used to collect information and transmit it back to Earth for a host of services. Every day, government and enterprise customers plus billions of ordinary consumers across the globe use satellites, most often without even knowing it.
From TV broadcasts, to the use of services such as Google Maps and Google Earth, satellites are the backbone of many modern technologies. For more information regarding satellites and the services they provide click on the Satellites and Services menu tab above.