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Satellites tend to use nuclear reactors or solar energy, instead of fuel, to power themselves. Out in space the sun is an excellent and plentiful source of energy. This is why spacecraft like the International Space Station and the Hubble Space Telescope run on solar power. However, sometimes harnessing the sun’s energy can be difficult. That is why satellites that tend leave Earth’s orbit usually run on nuclear power. A good example of this is the Voyager 1 satelite which has traveled past the solar system where there isnt enough sunlight to power the spacecraft.