This is a digital reproduction of a Space Shuttle launching a satellite. You can't see it in this picture, but there is a robotic arm holding the satellite from launching at the wrong time. Before this was happening, The shuttle also had 2 big rocket-like boosters attached to a fuel tank bigger than the shuttle itself. A few minutes after takeoff, the boosters fall off, followed much later by the fuel tank. The boosters and the shuttle can be reused, but another fuel tank has to be constructed.

Of course, this isn't a real satellite, but some actually look like this!!! Satellites come in all different sizes, shapes, and reasons. Some are HUGE, like Hubble, and some as small as people. Some are shaped like the one above, but others could be shaped like anything!!! There are weather satellites, research satellites, and telescope satellites. As you can see, satellites can range A LOT over just one country.