Satellite had a length at the gundeck of 112feet and 94feet at the keel. She had a beam of 31feet, a draught of 11feet and a depth of hold of 13feet. The ship's tonnage was 466 tons burthen.[1] The Satellite class was armed with a pair of 9-pounder cannon in the bow and sixteen 32-pounder carronades. The ships had a crew of 125 officers and ratings.[2]
Satellite, the third ship of her name to serve in the Royal Navy,[3] was ordered on 9 June 1825, laid down in June 1826 at Pembroke Dockyard, Wales, and launched on 3 October 1826.[2] She was completed on 14 February 1827 at Plymouth Dockyard and commissioned on 22 November 1826.[1]