A Brief History of the Satellite: The Machines That Watch Over Us cover art

A Brief History of the Satellite: The Machines That Watch Over Us

Listen with a free trial

Pre-order: Try Premium Plus free
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Unlimited access to our all-you-can-listen catalogue of 15K+ audiobooks and podcasts
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

A Brief History of the Satellite: The Machines That Watch Over Us

By: Nicholas Arden
Narrated by: Virtual Voice
Pre-order: Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Pre-order Now for £10.29

Pre-order Now for £10.29

LIMITED TIME OFFER

£0.99/mo for 3 months - terms apply. Offer ends 24 August 2026.
Background images

This title uses virtual voice narration

Virtual voice is computer-generated narration for audiobooks.

Explore the hidden technology shaping modern life in this thought-provoking history of space infrastructure. Perfect for your daily commute, this awe-inspiring science narrative reveals how spies, dreamers, and engineers turned the abstract idea of orbit into the beating heart of human civilization.

From the suspenseful rocket races of the Cold War to the fragile geopolitics of today's congested skies, journey through the triumphs and tradeoffs of a planet watched from above. Satisfy your deepest curiosity about the artificial moons that directly control everything from our daily weather forecasts to global banking systems.

What you'll discover inside:

• How military surveillance and political rivalries quietly evolved into the civilian communication networks we rely on daily.

• The fascinating human stories of the mathematicians and visionaries who first imagined launching machines into the sky.

• An inside look at modern mission control, taking you from a drawing board concept to a fully operational satellite.

• The hidden dangers of orbital congestion, space debris, and surveillance threatening the future of global connectivity.

• What emerging mega-constellations and deep space observation mean for humanity's fight against climate change and natural disasters.

You will never look at the night sky—or your smartphone—the same way again. Press play to uncover the remarkable machines silently orbiting above us and understand the unseen forces directing our global future.

©2026 Hidden Voices (P)2026 Hidden Voices
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet