One of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
Synonyms of satellite in English:
satellite
See definition of satellite
noun
1‘the European Space Agency's ERS-1 satellite’
SYNONYMS
space station, space capsule, spacecraft
artificial satellite, communications satellite, weather satellite, television satellite
sputnik, COBE, IRAS
informal Comsat
2‘the two small satellites of Mars’
SYNONYMS
moon, secondary planet
3‘Bulgaria was then a Russian satellite’
SYNONYMS
dependency, colony, protectorate, dominion, possession, holding
historical fief, tributary
adjective
1‘a satellite state’
SYNONYMS
dependent, subordinate, subsidiary, ancillary
puppet, vassal
historical tributary