Inmarsat is a British satellite telecommunications company, offering global mobile services. It provides telephone and data services to users worldwide, via portable or mobile terminals which communicate with ground stations through fifteen geostationary telecommunications satellites.
Inmarsat satellite telephone in use after a natural disaster in Nias, Indonesia. The unit depicted was manufactured by Thrane & Thrane A/S of Denmark. (April 2005)
Inmarsat Global HQ at 99 City Road, London. (January 2006)
GX5 satellite
A satellite constellation is a group of artificial satellites working together as a system. Unlike a single satellite, a constellation can provide permanent global or near-global coverage, such that at any time everywhere on Earth at least one satellite is visible. Satellites are typically placed in sets of complementary orbital planes and connect to globally distributed ground stations. They may also use inter-satellite communication.
A bright artificial satellite flare is visible above the Very Large Telescope. Satellite constellations could have an impact on ground-based astronomy.