# Why Are Satellites Covered In 'Gold Foil'? Here's What It's For

> NASA has had a long connection with gold and its unique color. In 1996, the Mars Global Surveyor was launched into space carrying a gold-plated telescope mirror designed to map the topography of Mars.

- **Source:** [SlashGear](https://www.slashgear.com/1902166/satellites-gold-foil-use-explained-what-for/?utm_source=gearopen.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=686a9b30d0ee6d38d794b20d)
- **Published:** 2025-07-06
- **Category:** Science
- **Tags:** #nasa #gold #covered #foil #mars #satellites #aboard #carrying
- **Canonical:** http://localhost:4321/a/686a9b30d0ee6d38d794b20d

---

_GearOpen's distilled summary. The full original article is published at SlashGear (source link above); GearOpen does not republish the source's full text._