How Satellites Were Built to Connect Us

An illustrated inventions story from Wonder Inventions — free to read, with narration.

How Satellites Were Built to Connect Us — an illustrated inventions story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

How Satellites Were Built to Connect Us — book cover — Wonder Inventions
How Satellites Were Built to Connect Us — an illustrated inventions story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

Page 1

"Rafael, could you grab the phone? Mom's calling," Bram asked, his voice booming from the kitchen. Rafael, sketching in his notebook, paused.
"Rafael, could you grab the phone? Mom's calling," Bram asked, his voice booming from the kitchen. Rafael, sketching in his notebook, paused. "I wonder, who even invented the phone? How did people talk to each other across long distances before that?" he mused, a spark of curiosity lighting up his eyes. He scrambled to his feet, a determined look on his face, and headed straight for his bedroom.

"Rafael, could you grab the phone? Mom's calling," Bram asked, his voice booming from the kitchen. Rafael, sketching in his notebook, paused. "I wonder, who even invented the phone? How did people talk to each other across long distances before that?" he mused, a spark of curiosity lighting up his eyes. He scrambled to his feet, a determined look on his face, and headed straight for his bedroom.

Page 2

He practically dove into his room and yanked open his glowing Invention Encyclopedia. As soon as the aged leather cover creaked open, a wave of shimmering light…
He practically dove into his room and yanked open his glowing Invention Encyclopedia. As soon as the aged leather cover creaked open, a wave of shimmering light enveloped him. "Here we go again," Rafael chuckled, bracing himself for the journey. The familiar swirling sensation intensified, pulling him away from his bedroom and into the unknown.

He practically dove into his room and yanked open his glowing Invention Encyclopedia. As soon as the aged leather cover creaked open, a wave of shimmering light enveloped him. "Here we go again," Rafael chuckled, bracing himself for the journey. The familiar swirling sensation intensified, pulling him away from his bedroom and into the unknown.

Page 3

The swirling light subsided, revealing a bustling workshop filled with wires, metal scraps, and complex machinery. A woman with determined eyes was soldering…
The swirling light subsided, revealing a bustling workshop filled with wires, metal scraps, and complex machinery. A woman with determined eyes was soldering two circuits together. A man in the corner adjusted the antenna, then started cursing under his breath. "Blast it all, this thing won't stay in orbit!" he exclaimed, throwing his hands up in frustration.

The swirling light subsided, revealing a bustling workshop filled with wires, metal scraps, and complex machinery. A woman with determined eyes was soldering two circuits together. A man in the corner adjusted the antenna, then started cursing under his breath. "Blast it all, this thing won't stay in orbit!" he exclaimed, throwing his hands up in frustration.

Page 4

Rafael, still clutching his notebook, gasped, "Wow!" He recognized the scene from a history documentary: the early days of satellite development.
Rafael, still clutching his notebook, gasped, "Wow!" He recognized the scene from a history documentary: the early days of satellite development. "Excuse me," Rafael asked timidly, approaching the man, "are you trying to build a satellite?" Bram turned, surprised, then chuckled. "Trying is the right word, kid. This thing is more stubborn than a weed in a flowerpot, but yes, we are," Bram responded.

Rafael, still clutching his notebook, gasped, "Wow!" He recognized the scene from a history documentary: the early days of satellite development. "Excuse me," Rafael asked timidly, approaching the man, "are you trying to build a satellite?" Bram turned, surprised, then chuckled. "Trying is the right word, kid. This thing is more stubborn than a weed in a flowerpot, but yes, we are," Bram responded.

Page 5

"It's harder than it looks, but we're getting close to making it work. And for good reason – think of all the amazing things that will be possible once we can…
"It's harder than it looks, but we're getting close to making it work. And for good reason – think of all the amazing things that will be possible once we can send this satellite in orbit," said Bram, wiping sweat from his forehead. Adam looked up, "Bram is right; the rewards will be worth the work to make sure communications can travel around the world.

"It's harder than it looks, but we're getting close to making it work. And for good reason – think of all the amazing things that will be possible once we can send this satellite in orbit," said Bram, wiping sweat from his forehead. Adam looked up, "Bram is right; the rewards will be worth the work to make sure communications can travel around the world. That means less than one-tenth of one percent of the cost for Transatlantic communication." Bram went on "Before satellites, transoceanic cables costed about 1,130,000 to install!"

Page 6

Rafael's eyes widened. "So, you're saying that people will be able to communicate instantly across the entire world? That's incredible!
Rafael's eyes widened. "So, you're saying that people will be able to communicate instantly across the entire world? That's incredible! How did you even come up with the idea?" Adam chuckled. "Well, it wasn't just us. In 1945, Arthur C. Clarke wrote a paper suggesting that satellites could be used for communication. And in 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1. We are trying to build something better now, for the entire world."

Rafael's eyes widened. "So, you're saying that people will be able to communicate instantly across the entire world? That's incredible! How did you even come up with the idea?" Adam chuckled. "Well, it wasn't just us. In 1945, Arthur C. Clarke wrote a paper suggesting that satellites could be used for communication. And in 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1. We are trying to build something better now, for the entire world."

Page 7

Rafael paced excitedly. “Better than Sputnik? That’s a bold claim! What makes our satellite different?” Bram adjusted his glasses, pointing to a complex diagram…
Rafael paced excitedly. “Better than Sputnik? That’s a bold claim! What makes our satellite different?” Bram adjusted his glasses, pointing to a complex diagram on the wall. “We're focusing on signal amplification and redundancy. Sputnik had limited bandwidth; it could barely transmit a simple ‘beep.’ We aim for clear voice communication – and data. Think of pictures, even!” Adam nodded. “And global coverage. Multiple satellites working together, creating a seamless web.”

Rafael paced excitedly. “Better than Sputnik? That’s a bold claim! What makes our satellite different?” Bram adjusted his glasses, pointing to a complex diagram on the wall. “We're focusing on signal amplification and redundancy. Sputnik had limited bandwidth; it could barely transmit a simple ‘beep.’ We aim for clear voice communication – and data. Think of pictures, even!” Adam nodded. “And global coverage. Multiple satellites working together, creating a seamless web.”

Page 8

Suddenly, a loud alarm blared through the workshop.
Suddenly, a loud alarm blared through the workshop.

Suddenly, a loud alarm blared through the workshop.

Page 9

Bram sprang into action, quickly adjusting the solar panels just as Rafael suggested. The lights flickered, then stabilized.
Bram sprang into action, quickly adjusting the solar panels just as Rafael suggested. The lights flickered, then stabilized. A collective sigh of relief swept through the room. \"You know, kid,\" Bram said, turning to Rafael, \"'The best way to predict the future is to invent it.' That's what Alan Kay once said. And you just helped us invent a better one. Thank you, Rafael.\"

Bram sprang into action, quickly adjusting the solar panels just as Rafael suggested. The lights flickered, then stabilized. A collective sigh of relief swept through the room. \"You know, kid,\" Bram said, turning to Rafael, \"'The best way to predict the future is to invent it.' That's what Alan Kay once said. And you just helped us invent a better one. Thank you, Rafael.\"

Page 10

Suddenly, the familiar swirling light returned, pulling Rafael back to his bedroom. He slammed the Invention Encyclopedia shut, his head buzzing with newfound…
Suddenly, the familiar swirling light returned, pulling Rafael back to his bedroom. He slammed the Invention Encyclopedia shut, his head buzzing with newfound knowledge. He raced to the kitchen, where Bram was still talking on the phone. "You wouldn't believe what I just learned about satellites, Bram! They're what make this phone call possible!" he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Suddenly, the familiar swirling light returned, pulling Rafael back to his bedroom. He slammed the Invention Encyclopedia shut, his head buzzing with newfound knowledge. He raced to the kitchen, where Bram was still talking on the phone. "You wouldn't believe what I just learned about satellites, Bram! They're what make this phone call possible!" he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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