Satellite Technologies
Aerospace

How Enterprises are Evolving with Satellite Technologies

The development of satellite technologies is gaining momentum with help from private investors, as many industrial companies see its revenue opportunities. Counting cars in retail store parking lots from space, for example, provides a competitive edge for investors who evaluate consumer trends. Here are some of the ways enterprises benefit from embracing satellite imagery in their business models.


Investing in Space Development

At one time, satellite technologies were funded strictly by governments for developing military and civilian projects, which took long blocks of time to achieve. Development on the Global Positioning System (GPS) began in 1973 but wasn't unleashed to the public until 2000. This lengthy development could be attributed to government budget constraints. NASA's budget has declined as a percentage of the federal budget since the sixties.

Large corporations do not face the same financial constraints as governments that must divide funds among a multitude of emergencies, social programs and corporate subsidies. The share of investors entering space development has surged this century due to transmission advancements and lower costs of satellites. This interest from the private sector has culminated in satellite constellations towering above earth.

These clusters of satellites were made possible from enterprises pooling resources. Increasing private funding has helped lower the costs of launching and operating satellites. The growth of satellite constellations now creates a competitive environment for businesses to build assets in space. Satellites are extremely useful for photographing the earth and monitoring activity. It opens up a market for selling high-quality images from space.

Space truly is the final frontier for financial interests. It's a barely tapped goldmine that solves many problems people on earth cannot. Many well-funded companies see the potential for skyrocketing profits from the combination of IoT devices, AI, automation and advanced satellite imaging systems.

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Analyzing Satellite Imagery

One way a company can profit off the current space race is to get low-cost images from satellites and sell them to people who otherwise don't have access to them. Businesses can get useful insights on markets by studying aerials. Agricultural firms can use the data to determine which areas enjoy the best crop development in the age of climate change.

Analysis of satellite imagery is emerging as an industry that can help a wide range of businesses. The addition of artificial intelligence (AI) such as machine learning technology can make this analysis more comprehensive and powerful. This system can identify aircraft and other objects in the sky. In the future, the sky will be populated with delivery drones that are tracked by satellite. There will also be a need to track construction projects from cameras in space.


Important Applications of Satellite Imagery

Today's satellites serve many purposes. Here are some of the most game-changing uses of satellite imagery:

  • Urban planning - With urban expansion comes environment protection issues, such as preserving parks and other areas of scenic beauty. Green preservation improves quality of life for a community. So satellite imagery can play a huge role in helping urban planners identify areas for preservation and development. It will help them monitor landscapes, gardens and forests to gauge wildlife and other aspects of the environment.
  • Tracking environmental elements - Cleaning and protecting the environment will become more efficient with the help of satellite images. Waste management companies will be able to scan areas for abandoned trash. Recyclers can use satellite images to locate scattered materials. The more trash is removed from communities, the more it will raise morale and beautify cities. It can also help local officials evaluate waste management sites. Satellites will further provide tracking of carbon emissions.
  • Infrastructure monitoring - There are various facets of modern infrastructure that can be measured and monitored with satellite technology. Railway construction contractors can benefit in several ways studying aerial photos from different angles. Satellite imagery will be helpful for any type of land development, such as surveying land for existing vegetation and conditions for restoring vegetation. Adding machine learning software and automation to the equation creates an even more powerful resource for forecasting land development.
  • Forecasting natural disasters - Another huge contribution satellite imagery will offer society is that it will help predict natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. Satellite cameras integrated with machine learning software can provide alerts on developing climate events. Improved forecasting of disasters will help airlines and railways with scheduling and routing. Rescue teams will be better prepared to overcome the challenges posed by disasters.
  • Airport mapping - The layout of a new airport can be designed with greater precision with the help of satellite, AI and machine learning technology. These images can further be used for 3D modeling of the airspace and terrain. Airport facility mapping will improve immensely with satellite images providing accurate maps for taxi and shuttle drivers. These maps will be particularly useful for training new drivers the route to follow. More detailed airport mapping will help identify environmental problems.


Where Commercial Satellite Imaging is Headed

The commercial satellite imaging market is expected to reach over $7 billion by 2027, according to Mordor Intelligence. This growth will impact several industries such as military, construction, logistics, energy and forestry. Demand for imagery-based data will grow, creating new revenue opportunities for space agencies. Governments beyond the United States, such as Australia, also support the development of commercial space projects.

Satellite images are useful to companies that secure energy resources, as well as businesses that engage in mapping. They can also be valuable during a crisis, such as for rescue teams to locate people in disaster areas. Forestry officials can use the images to locate forest fires faster and mitigate damage. Various defense initiatives will contribute to the market growth of satellite imagery, as it will help track enemies and threats through geospatial mapping. Ultimately, it will speed up military decisions.

The reason North America is expected to be the fastest growing market is because it has already invested the most in satellite research and development. The United States currently controls over half of the 4,852 active satellites orbiting the earth, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. Defense organizations investing in surveillance technology have played a key role in the expansion of satellites.

American aerospace company SpaceX currently accounts for nearly a quarter of all space launches. Other U.S. firms that have secured government space contracts include BlackSky, Maxar Technologies and Planet Labs. Some of the leaders in satellite imagery include L3Harris Technologies, Galileo Group and SpaceKnow. Not only are foreign governments and corporations becoming more interested in space commerce, so are consumers.


Conclusion

The commercialization of images from space is already underway, thanks to increasing private investment in satellite technologies. While most of the players in this field are large organizations, satellite constellations are growing to facilitate a diverse range of businesses that want to capitalize on space commerce opportunities.

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Satellite Internet
Aerospace

Is Satellite Internet Right for Your Organization?

There are multiple ways to access the internet, such as through cable, DSL and satellite. One of the reasons some people choose satellite internet is because of its omnipresent availability. But it also has its technical issues that sometimes are as spotty as nineties dial-up internet. Here's a look at what you need to know when considering satellite internet.


Who is Satellite Internet Ideal For?

The people who can benefit the most from satellite internet live in remote areas where cable and DSL are unavailable. Rural, mountainous, wilderness and coastal areas don't always have services from standard ISPs. Meanwhile, satellite internet pretty much covers the planet since the signal is coming from space.

It's essentially better than nothing, but it's not going to be the high performance you get from wired services. So it's not the best solution for a business, particularly one that provides 24/7 digital services. But it's still useful for regions that have a history of natural disasters such as flooding, wildfires, earthquakes and hurricanes. Thanks to satellite internet, victims in this area can still connect online when wired internet services are down.


Satellite Internet's Greatest Strength: Wide Availability

The fact that anyone anywhere can get internet access via satellite makes this technology worthwhile as an option. Many consumers complain that only a few choices for internet service providers are available in their areas, often overlooking the option of satellite internet. While it's not the best choice for seamless internet, it's the best choice for resilient internet during a disaster.

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For the most part, satellite transmission works better than the cheapest dial-up or mobile hotspot connectivity, but on rainy days it can have unpredictable coverage. On the other hand, during clear skies, the coverage is usually just as good as cable or DSL.

Some satellite internet providers offer data transmission speeds up to 25 Mbps with goals of reaching higher speeds within the next decade. According to the FCC, 90 percent of satellite internet providers achieve up to 140 percent of the speeds they claim, including during peak times.


Satellite Internet Weaknesses: Speed, Data Caps, Pricing

The first red flag you may notice about satellite internet is that it's a little more expensive than other types of broadband. Then if you decide to purchase satellite internet service, you may be frustrated by the slower speeds and greater latency. These bottlenecks are particularly obvious during cloudy skies. Another problem is the prohibitive data caps, which restrict internet use.

Other drawbacks to satellite internet are long minimum contracts, such as 12-month subscriptions and inability to support a virtual private network (VPN). Satellite internet is based on spacecraft that remains above the same spot on the planet. Its quality depends on good weather and communication with a dish installed on the user's roof.

Your purpose for using the internet will define whether or not satellite internet is worth the price you pay for it. If you need internet to make stock trades, for example, satellite might not be the right choice, since there's a chance you'll be cut off from real-time quotes or won't have the ability to execute a trade on bad weather days. If you do remote work from home that requires strict deadlines, spotty satellite coverage can disrupt your performance and goals.


Conclusion

Satellite internet exists as a choice that's somewhat of a last resort, but it can play important life-saving roles in certain situations. No matter where you live, satellite internet is at least an option and a temporary alternative when negative issues develop with your main provider.

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Virtual Reality
Aerospace

Applications of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in Space Exploration

Space exploration poses significant challenges for the scientists, engineers, and astronauts involved. Space technology has come a long way and has allowed the space industry to achieve incredible feats, including the moon landing, the International Space Station, and space vehicles exploring the solar system.

Novel research and solutions are necessary to tackle existing problems and attain new space-related goals. Developments in Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) enable space industry professionals to manage some of these challenges. Below is an overview of how VR and AR are used innovatively to supplement critical functions pivotal to space exploration.


Planetary Exploration

A team from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) demonstrated the exploration and research capabilities of VR and AR in space using Microsoft HoloLens (a headset that projects virtual images over the real world). One of the award-winning projects referred to as ‘Onsight’ involved a virtual reconstruction of the surface of Mars where researchers could operate collaboratively.

Among the tasks they could complete included plotting courses and targets for the Mars rover. This tech was unveiled at Kennedy Space Center, where you can go on a tour of Mars. Before this breakthrough, space researchers had to plot Mars locations on surface panoramas taken by rovers.

With the VR headsets, the researchers improved their accuracy in determining distances and angles between Martian locations. This demonstration showcased the potential of VR in planetary exploration. Now you can execute planetary exploration functions in a virtual environment and develop spatial awareness of the scenery before undertaking the real missions in the future.


Virtual Aid for Astronauts

VR and AR provide opportunities for engineers and experts to aid astronauts on the International Space Station with complex procedures. NASA and Microsoft developed project Sidekick for this exact purpose. NASA tested Sidekick at the Aquarius Laboratory as part of the NASA Extreme Environment Missions Operations (NEEMO) 20 expedition.

This application helps support functions, including equipment setup and checks. Utilizing Remote Expert Mode, a ground operator employs real-time virtual annotation, video, and voice chat to collaborate on what an astronaut on the ISS is seeing. Ground experts can offer interactive guidance and create imagery into the environment of the astronaut.

In Procedure Mode, the astronaut can see virtual animated illustrations on the objects they interact with. This VR and AR space application can help with inventory management, reduce crew training, and increase efficiency.


Space Simulations

VR and AR technologies allow for immersive life-like experiences. For this reason, they are invaluable tools that you can use to create simulations to prepare astronauts for real-life mission scenarios. One notable application is stimulating reduced gravity environments.

One of the facilities and techniques NASA employs to train astronauts in this regard is the Active Response Gravity Offload System (ARGOS). As you know, developing such facilities is very resource-intensive and expensive. VR and AR functionalities can help ease this burden through high accessibility and manageable costs.

A good example is the VR space simulator (Titan Lake) that Raytracer developed. Titan Lake utilizes a swimming pool and VR technology to simulate the space environment. Such facilities enable astronauts to experienced microgravity environments and train in different VR space environments.

NASA Space Center in Houston has been applying VR in space simulations in their Virtual Reality Laboratory (VRL) for several years to acclimatize astronauts to the conditions experienced outside Earth’s boundaries.


Astronaut Training

Space exploration needs a very particular skill set. Astronauts are exposed to extreme conditions. Training programs involving physical and mental tests are necessary to ensure they can handle the demands of space travel. VR and AR offer innovative ways to train astronauts.

A European Space Agency (ESA) project known as GRIP employs VR to assess the effects of spaceflight on gripping and object manipulation. This investigation may highlight the challenges astronauts face when moving between environments with varying gravity levels. In the future, these developments will help train astronauts to handle moves from microgravity environments (such as the ISS) to environments with low gravity, such as Mars or the Moon.

NASA is also conducting a study (VECTION) using VR to determine the effects of microgravity on the motion, distance perception, and orientation of astronauts. With this technology, you can assess how astronauts adapt to these effects and formulate training programs accordingly. NASA states that VECTION may aid pilots, drivers, and robotic handlers to better control vehicles in environs with low gravity.


Conclusion

Overall, there is great potential for the application of VR and AR in space exploration and the complementary functions. Other notable applications include VR robotic control, VR space analogs, AR maintenance assists, space experimentation and upgrades, space safety training, and space grasp training.  The space industry has lots to gain from the virtual and augmented simulation approach. This includes improved mission planning, critical flight and ground operations simulation, collaborative engineering tasks, and digital representation.


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satellite constellations
Aerospace

An Astronomical Crisis: Conservation and the Privatization of Space

The privatization of near-Earth space is fast approaching, with new opportunities in low Earth orbit getting headlines, inspiring startups, and gaining attention from investors. Now that internet access has become essential for daily life, satellite companies are racing to corner the services market for high-speed, low-cost global internet coverage.

As a result, the number of small satellites in our skies is expected to grow tremendously, hitting upwards of 100,000 in the next decade. Populating near orbit with space debris risks repeating the errors of colonization by imperialists, and we must consider what impact the increased satellite constellations will have on humanity.

For this reason, it is important for all stakeholders be included in space decisions, and governments must advocate for laws that would recognize space as a shared resource with both cultural and scientific significance. Therefore, it is vital to use policy and regulation to ensure near-Earth space does not become another exhausted natural resource.


Eye on IoT and Space Research

Low Earth orbit is becoming privatized by companies such as SpaceX, OneWeb, and LeoStat, aiming to bring satellite broadband to the entire globe.

These small satellites will also offer high bandwidth, low latency, secure communications for business operations. Current efforts are to reach 100 percent coverage in domains such as permanent global surveillance and imaging.

In addition, these small satellites are accelerating technologies around IoT to revolutionize international business, government, Maritime, energy, telecommunications, and improvements in science.

Experts believe that beyond the benefits, this increase of satellites in near-earth orbit poses a crisis because there’s still little or no synchronized international regulation on the production and launch of these satellites.

Ethical considerations have also been discussed as there is a growing concern that the space race is leaving out communities who should have a voice when space decisions are deliberated.

Critics believe several questions should be asked regarding what is at stake for humans in light of the growing cultural and scientific impact of these new LEO satellite systems. It is recommended that near-Earth space be regulated and protected as a resource like water, land, and air are protected on earth.


Impact on Astronomy

Light pollution from the presence of tens of thousands of satellites cluttering near-earth space may have a negative affect our ability to observe the cosmos.

Some interference problems may be circumvented by darkening the satellites, making them smaller, or scheduling observations between constellation fly-bys. In other words, the only other way to avoid impacting the astrological community would be to ban satellite launches completely—an unlikely scenario.

Treaties, Use of Space and Space Law

The SATCON 1 workshop, partly organized by the American Astronomical Society and funded by the National Science Foundation, was held as part of an inquiry to investigate the impact brought by these small satellites. The report concluded that the negative consequences to ground-based telescopes and observation facilities are unavoidable, and the coming swarms of satellite constellations will impact every facet of astrological research.

Additionally, the impact of space debris caused by a growing number of objects in orbit will continue to grow and pose the risk of filling space with junk from collisions of satellites against each other.

As of now, a few treaties aim to regulate space and the launch of satellites. Agreements such as the Outer Space Treaty aim to unite humanity into a common front to protect space. But the emergence of space billionaires like Elon Musk and Richard Branson poses a risk as their activities are not accountable to the public.

Planetary Protection

The time is now to consider the short and long-term impacts of further exploration into space on our environment. Examining existing objects, post-mission disposal (PMD), and atmospheric emissions from rocket launches are all topics that require critical consideration and investigation.


The End of Dark Skies?

The growth of investment in satellite constellations coupled with the lack of oversight, accountability, or a common agenda is a recipe for disaster. The ability to observe the stars hits the heart of man’s cultural and scientific relation to the sky, impacting age-old traditions and practices exercised by people all over the world. The privatization of space stands to benefit humanity by advancing the ubiquity of the internet and increasing the reliability of global industrial solutions and applications. But we must consider the impact of satellite constellations, weigh their merits, deficiencies, and insists that all of humanity be included in discussions around the development, deployment, and regulation of space activities.


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deep space networks
Aerospace

A Look Inside Deep Space Networks

“Deep space” is a term used by NASA and the aerospace industry as any distance further than the moon. Meanwhile, the European Space Agency (ESA) considers the same term to mean distances greater than 2 million kilometers, which is over five times greater than the distance to the moon.


What Space Exploration Has Achieved

Not only have astronauts visited the moon, but NASA has also sent equipment in space to explore other planets, particularly Mars. In addition, sophisticated spacecraft regularly send photos and data back to Earth for scientists to analyze. One of NASA’s deepest space missions launched in 1977 to explore the outer Milkyway galaxy, which continues today. Another mission was launched in 1997 to study Saturn, which is also still in progress over 1. 3 billion km from Earth.

In 2007, the Voyager mission documented 1,600 km/hr winds on Neptune. Later exploration led to the discovery of Planet HD 106906b and how it has a different gravitational relationship with its parent star than the Sun and Earth. The Rosetta space probe discovered organic carbon compounds on a comet, which may contribute to further evidence on how life started on Earth.


Limits of Space Technology

Despite NASA’s amazing ability to launch thousands of spacecraft over the years to build sophisticated deep space networks, data collection is much slower in space than on Earth. Nevertheless, the space agency expects data transmission rates to increase by nearly tenfold with new advancements over time. For example, the data currently sent to Earth from Rosetta is received at a speed of 104.86 kb/sec while Voyager 2 data is received at 160 bytes/sec.

Another limitation involving even the most advanced spacecraft is solar power. Today’s spacecraft are fueled by a mix of solar power and radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs). Solar energy weakens once a spaceship gets into deep space, so RTGs take over as the primary power source. Even though RTGs can generate long-term power, they aren’t yet capable of generating volumes of power at the low mass needed for spacecraft to be optimized. Telecommunications equipment on spacecraft tends to make up just a few kilograms. The Voyager uses up to only 360 watts for its telecommunications technology.

Spacecraft used to explore deep space must be designed for long-term reliability without maintenance since missions usually last ten years or more. Unfortunately, technical problems have occurred on missions, such as in 1991 with the failure of Galileo’s High Gain Antenna (HGA) to set up properly. All attempts to fix it failed as the mission was forced to rely on just its Low Gain Antenna (LGA) at a much lower bandwidth.

Another example of a technical breakdown in space was in 2011 with the Russian space agency Roscosmos. Its Phobos-Grunt mission was unable to sustain itself in in space and crashed back down to Earth in early 2012.


RF Challenges

The power of RF communication from deep space to NASA ground stations is very low. That’s why highly sensitive equipment is needed to ensure the signals are received properly. Voyager 2 is equipped with an S-Band transmitter to communicate with NASA’s 70m dish antennas. But the signal is so weak, an amplifier must be used to boost the signal. While accounting for Earth’s rotation, dishes must be positioned with precision to thousandths of a degree per second, pointed at the spacecraft.

Space communication takes place in a frequency range from 1GHz to 300 GHz concentrated in the lower bands: L-Band, S-Band, X-Band, and Ka-Band. While higher frequencies can deliver higher data rates, they face more atmospheric interference.


Conclusion

The advent of deep space networks continues to improve throughout the galaxy. Radio intensity decreases with distance, so scientists must deal with enormous challenges in successfully receiving data from space. Designing durable, low-maintenance spacecraft for long missions is essential, with anticipation of more resilient renewable energy in the future.

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space race
Aerospace

Trillion Dollar Markets: IoT and the Billionaires Space Race

When the Falcon 9 rocket blasted off into space, SpaceX became the first private company to reach the International Space Station. This accomplishment set in motion a global race for space supremacy on earth. Today, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are also going full throttle for the business potential in space, with Porsche SE recently joining as the new kid on the block

What is fueling this new race? And what role does the Internet of Things (IoT) play in this global race?

The IoT has become crucial in everyday living as computing speeds increase exponentially and integrated circuits become miniaturized to fit into standard technologies and products. IoT has given humans absolute control of their environment. The hindrance to this interconnectivity of devices is that our current satellite coverage amounts to less than 20 percent of the planet.

At present, there is no single technology sufficient to connect the entire world or enough bandwidth to handle the trillions of internet-capable devices. This problem creates an overwhelming need for satellite-based communication technology for the world to achieve the full potential and impact of IoT.

Research firm Northern Sky estimates that 30 billion-plus IoT-enabled gadgets will be interconnected by 2025, and International Data Corporation estimates IoT spending to hit $1.2 trillion in 2022.


Billionaires Space Race

Billionaire investors and the private sector all want a share of the pie in this market, as trillions of dollars are at stake for companies willing to take the plunge. Richard Branson beat fellow billionaires Jeff Bezos of Amazon and Tesla’s Elon Musk to reach space aboard his Virgin Galactic craft which blasted off by his own privately funded rocket thruster.

This privatization of space has opened doors to private companies producing miniature satellites to populate the entire orbit.


Launching Miniaturized Satellite Constellations

The new space race has led to mass production of nano and picosatellites to populate earth’s orbit. These smallsats are expected to provide full-spectrum internet coverage and connectivity for IoT-enabled to devices for years to come. Additionally, low-earth orbit satellites can serve both high bandwidth and low-data transmission rates to IoT devices in the most remote regions of the world.

Private IoT providers like Swarm, Kepler, and Astrocast launch thousands of these mini-satellites into space every year to help relay information for billions of devices. Everything from vehicles to phones and even electronic implants chips embedded in human tissue will provide data to give humans greater control of the environment around them.


Porsche Joins the Space Bid

Companies like Porsche have not been left behind in this growing market for launching miniature satellites into orbit. The automaker has partnered with Isar Aerospace to make headway in this space race to produce rocket thruster technology for launching micro-satellites into orbit. Trillions of dollars are at stake, and the space billionaires will face new rivals like Porsche SE in the coming years.

By acquiring a minimum shareholding stake in Isar Aerospace, Porsche SE and other investors have pumped $165 million into the latest funding round for its space vehicle and launch services company.

As NASA makes room for newcomers in space exploration, space billionaires and private companies are now in the driver’s seat. Fueling this demand is the need for global imaging and interconnectivity of devices by businesses, governments, schools and individuals around the world.

In the next coming decade, innovation for space-based technology will become the driving factor for many countries and industries worldwide. If all goes as planned, IoT will be pervasive in all sectors of human life, including intelligent farming technologies, climate monitoring, health monitoring, wearable intelligent devices, and more.


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Low Earth Orbit Satellites
Aerospace

Low Earth Orbit Satellites and the Paradox of Choice

There are a growing number of startups providing rocket and satellite services around the world. Low earth orbit satellites, also called LEO satellites, are a primary focus for these companies, with these satellites already accounting for the majority of satellite capacity.

The number of Earth-orbiting satellites has now surpassed 2,500, most of them low Earth orbiters. In general, they operate between 500km and 2000km above the earth’s surface.

SpaceX and Blue Origin invest heavily in LEO satellite production due to their excellent data transmission capabilities. They are easier to manufacture and smaller than satellites farther away.

Within a few years, Elon Musk plans to launch 42,000 Starlink satellites into orbit around the earth. Launches of their satellites always generate a great deal of excitement as they flit through the sky like a string of pearls.

Amazon’s application for the launch of more than 3,000 satellites into orbit was approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2019, despite continuing concerns about mega-constellations.

And by the time OneWeb went bankrupt, 74 of the company’s internet satellites were already in orbit. Canadian, Russian, and Chinese players are also stepping up.


Defying Investor Fears

This satellite race may seem reminiscent of the companies’ attempts to provide global connectivity in the 1990s. Many satellite companies, including Iridium, Teledesic, and Odyssey, had grand plans. Although, due to high costs, all but Iridium have ditched their planned constellations, prompting investors to be overly cautious.

There have been many changes in the past twenty years, however. With satellite technology advancements and growing bandwidth demand, companies have developed creative business models to generate profits from connectivity.


The Stars Have Aligned

Why are satellite constellations of interest again? According to researchers, success may be imminent. This likelihood is driven by factors that are converging now that did not exist in the past.

Better spectrum usage – LEO concepts utilizing large amounts of Ka-band are being considered. Data rates are higher with these frequencies. Antennas are smaller, beams are narrower, and the security is better. The amount of data a system can deliver can also be expanded with increased spectral efficiency and spectrum recycling rates.

Higher throughput – The improvements in active antennas and processing, in addition to better spectrum utilization, result in greater performance per satellite, increasing constellation capability. Using LEO satellites, more and more beams can be deployed, with each beam delivering more and more power.

Better ground equipment – Using electronically steerable antennas (ESAs), companies can now shift beams, track and access satellites without moving the antenna. Additionally, these ESAs can be designed for modular assembly, which will allow manufacturers to produce the technology at economies of scale for greater reach and at a lower cost.

Advanced business models – There are more ways to make money off satellites compared to 60 years ago. Media and e-commerce companies have been acquiring satellites to develop content and distribution under their own roof.

A constellation provider that offers free internet access to their customers in exchange for more revenue elsewhere might take a similar approach. For example, a social network that offers free internet access is likely to have a higher user retention rate


What is the point of having so many satellites?

One major disadvantage of the low orbit is that the satellites quickly disappear and interrupt the radio link. Preventative measures should include satellites communicating wirelessly and transmitting data to other satellites in line of sight. The only way companies like SpaceX can cover almost the entire earth is by launching so many satellites into space.

However, despite the benefits of having an exponential supply of small satellites, advocates point to the downsides of the proliferation of LEO satellites. In the first place, no one knows for certain how many LEOs can exist before collision risks explode, and if a collision occurs, it can set off a chain reaction that increases future collision risks. There is no denying the massive improvement that LEO satellites will have on global internet access. However, only time will tell how these gigantic fleets will be managed and which satellite providers will persevere to become the most reliable and profitable ventures.


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internet of space Things
Aerospace

Internet of Space Things: Extending IoT Applications in Space

A key component of IoT’s long-term success is its capacity to be ubiquitous, an area in which disparate connectivity solutions fall amazingly short. Today, the Internet of Things is stretching towards the skies in what is known as the “Internet of Space.”


Internet of Space

Leading companies around the globe have started seriously considering the concept of the Internet of Space (IoS). Both NASA and ESA have prepared plans to deploy satellite networks around Earth, spanning Mars and the Sun. The networks consist of microwave antenna arrays with miniaturized satellites and lasers pointing through free space.

In the coming years, these technologies will provide the communication networks needed for connected robots and landers that will explore and possibly mine lunar and Martian surfaces.


Internet of Space Things (loST)

An innovative group from the Georgia Institute of Technology has introduced the concept of the Internet of Space Things (IoST).

The “things” in IoST specifically refer to a new class of small satellites they’ve developed called CubeSats. Equipped with limited onboard processing, their role primary revolves around data collection and transmission to and from the Earth, in conjunction with active and passive sensing capabilities.

The promise of CubeSats is the realization of a new global cyber-physical system that enables a multitude of applications on land, in the air, and in space. Additional connectivity leveraged from LEOs, GEOs, and MEOs, as well as the use of SDN and NVF based frameworks would allow CubeSats to be highly scalable, operate as-a-service and utilize network slicing for resource isolation between users.

Their system is designed for flexibility with multi-band connectivity to enable a wide range of geostationary and near-geostationary endpoints, including terrestrial, below ground, and underwater locations. Security is built into the IoST architecture through the use of different security profiles and delievered as-a-service to protect the availablity, integrity, and privacy of all connected resources and information.

Use cases for IoST applications:

  • Remote sensing
  • Monitoring of terrain and assets
  • Exploration of the deep space
  • Management of global transportation
  • Inter-CubeSat or ground-station data transmission
  • Disrupted or underserved areas have limited Internet access

Global Internet Access for All

Companies such as SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and Blue Origin have broken several traditional ideas about space exploration, opening up further investigation by private companies into commercial space opportunities.

Most new developments in IoS revolve around bringing internet connectivity to the other one-third of the world’s population (3 billion) who don’t have it. The ability to provide broadband access depends on the low-latency, high-speed communications provided by low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations.

LEO satellites are smaller, cheaper, and easier to produce than their GEO and MEO satellite cousins. For context, it only takes 3 GEO satellites to provide 100% communications coverage at an altitude of 22,000 miles above the Earth’s surface. On the other hand, thousands of LEO satellites are required to reach complete coverage because they are so close to Earth’s surface (500-1000 miles). Accordingly, companies launching LEO constellations are benefitting from the low production costs and short development times of this technology.

Key Players in the Race to LEO

OneWeb

Enhanced internet connectivity is expected worldwide through the launch of 648 satellites by OneWeb Satellites by the end of 2022. As of 17 December 2020, 140 satellites were in operation by the company. OneWeb announced another launch, by 2022, of 650 satellites that will cover the entire world.

Starlink and SpaceX

The Starlink satellites supported by SpaceX aim to provide rural areas with high-speed broadband connectivity previously only available in urban areas. More than 1,000 Starlink satellites are currently orbiting the Earth, with beta services presently available in Canada and the northern US.

Amazon

Amazon plans to launch Kuiper, a project in partnership with the Netherlands. The project aims to provide internet to tens of millions of people who lack access to basic broadband internet through the deployment of 3,236 satellites in a decade.

TeleSat

Canadian firm TeleSat has announced its plans to launch almost 1600 satellites in LEO to provide continuous data services over the ocean. The two sub-constellations are planned with 351 polar satellites and 1320 inclined satellites to cover the entire globe.

China

The Chinese government plans to construct large constellations of satellites under the “Digital Silk Road” (DSR) project. China and India are home to over half of the world’s population, many of whom have no connectivity. Some pay very expensive internet fees.

Whether it is CubeSats, SmallSats, or LEO satellites, the growing availability of commercially available space parts is allowing more companies to get into the space business. But to truly jumpstart these markets, commercial off-the-shelf costs (COTS) will have to come down for high-quality components. In an environment as harsh as space, electronics are easily destroyed by extreme temperatures and radiation. And due to expensive launch costs, devices and satellites sent up need to be “space-ready” and resilient to failure.

As technologies advance and more entrepreneurs, engineers and scientists collaborate to develop solutions, the space industry and internet of space will expand to provide new intelligence and insights from the farthest reaches of the galaxy.


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space economy
Aerospace

Race to Space: The Commercial Space Age Has Begun

SpaceX was the first private company to take NASA astronauts into orbit, in this case towards the International Space Station (ISS) which travels around the Earth between 400 and 500 kilometers high.

It did so with its Dragon transport capsule carried to final orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket, all proprietary material, as well as the procedures and personnel for take-off and re-entry.

The launch not only solved the problem of bringing astronauts into low orbit, but opened the door to a new era in which private companies and state agencies will write the history of the space race


SpaceX and Its Competitors

In addition to SpaceX, which pocketed a $ 2.6 billion contract for six of these human transports, there is Boeing, which certainly has experience. Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are other worthy contenders for the burgeoning commercial space market.


NASA Taking the Backseat

NASA—by leaving the field free to private companies—has effectively created a new industrial sector. The agency hopes that the lower cost of commercial flights will allow the agency to expand its exploration and space research efforts.

Private companies seem to take the lead in all plans to revisit the moon and eventually reach Mars. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, before launch, stressed that they are trying to build economically “sustainable” space exploration.

In 2014, NASA authorized SpaceX and Boeing to build launch vehicles that are able to transport humans to the station. Boeing is lagging behind its rival, with its first uncrewed mission scheduled for the end of July after fixing the problems with its Starliner capsule


More Startups Enter the Race

The Texas startup Axiom Space, run by former NASA manager Suffredini has contracted with Space X to send four astronauts on the commercial missions. In addition, Space Adventures has signed a contract with Space X to transport tourists into space starting in 2022.

Both operations hinged on the success of the Dragon capsule. Putting human beings who are not government employees in orbit is seen as something that could help stimulate low-gravity production techniques.


The Staggering Numbers

Global space advocate Space Foundation, a non-profit, announced in its latest quarterly report that space investments totaled over $6 billion in Q3 2020 through acquisitions, buyouts, and private equity.

According to an analysis published by Quilty Analytics in The Space Report 2020 Q3, acquisitions and buyouts reached $3.3 billion in the third quarter, outpacing the 13 transactions and $265 million in disclosed value announced in Q2.

The space sector generated approximately $366 billion in revenue in 2019. These were mainly goods and services created in space for use on Earth. A key component of this economy includes communications via satellite and internet infrastructure, earth observation, and national security.

Despite being plagued by overcrowded markets and monopolistic competition due to a scarce natural resources, this economy is booming, and projections are optimistic about its future.

The picture is different for the space-for-space economy—goods produced in space for use in space such as space mining, which has hitherto struggled to take off. The privatization of space promises hope for this sector.


Richard Branson Beats Bezos and Musk to Space

When Paul Allen and Larry Ellison tussled over who owned the biggest yacht in the world, we saw billionaire boys go eyeball-to-eyeball with their toys. Ellison built his 452ft rising Sun after Allen’s 416ft superyacht Octopus was commissioned, proving that size does matter.

A new billionaire battle is now underway—for space flights. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said he would pilot Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket to outer space come July 20. But Richard Branson upstaged Bezos and Musk by launching into space on July 11 in his Virgin Galactic VSS Unity spaceplane. Branson beat the two space-crazed billionaires into space, a challenge that marks the real beginning of space tourism. The sector is projected to expand in the next 20 years, with suborbital flight prices decreasing as more cost-cutting opportunities arise.


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Aerospace

Space Satellites to Help Solve Environmental Challenges

NASA has been visiting space since the 1950s when it was created. One of its earliest missions was to launch space satellites to communicate with stations on Earth. In 2022, the federal aerospace agency will launch six small satellites called “smallsats” to observe tropical storms on Earth. It will help scientists understand the physical aspects of cyclones and how to predict them with greater accuracy. Here’s a deeper look at how satellite communication will help scientists learn about storms in the face of increased environmental challenges.


Exploring Earth’s Tropical Zone from Space

Earth’s tropical zone essentially exists within a 40-degree latitude span around the equator. This zone is where Puerto Rico suffered $43 billion in infrastructure damage due to Hurricane Maria in 2017. Haiti, which was also devastated by a hurricane, is located 20 degrees north of the equator, while Bolivia is located 20 degrees south of the equator. Researchers have observed that warmer climates are making cyclones in the tropical zone worse, which is part of what triggered the TROPICS mission.

The constellation of space satellites that NASA is planning to launch will be part of the TROPICS mission designed to study tropical storms. TROPICS is an acronym for Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats. NASA is funding the project, which is led by the MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Other collaborators include NOAA and various university and industry partners.


Measuring a Cyclone’s Evolution

Once the constellation is launched, the satellites will communicate with each other to deliver observations of a storm’s development along with measurements of precipitation, temperature, and humidity. The measurements come from passive microwave (PMW) sounder instruments. NASA will receive these reports nearly every hour. It will help scientists analyze how storms manifest from start to finish and better understand storm intensification factors.

The instruments operate at various frequencies to take specific measurements including 206 GHz for cloud ice, allowing analysts to observe how cloud characteristics affect storm structure and intensity. Cloud precipitation is measured at 90 GHz while water vapor is measured through 3 channels near 183 GHz. The images generated by TROPICS satellite equipment provide enhanced resolution and other advancements that improve meteorology.

Scientists will monitor how these storms evolve using instruments with sensors that provide measurements every 30 to 60 minutes. These observations will be more frequent than those used in the past on other missions to monitor cyclones from satellites.

The constellation is referred to as 6 CubeSats 3U, which will take measurements similar to X-rays, allowing analysts to see through layers to observe an underlying structure. Each CubeSat is about a foot long and weighs 11.8 pounds. Microwave radiometers will be the tools that measure cloud properties, along with temperature, humidity, and precipitation.


Preparing for the Launch

A TROPICS pathfinder satellite was launched on June 30, 2021 to allow complete testing and data processing of the communications technology. The testing will prepare for next year’s constellation launch and ensure data flows to application users seamlessly. NASA will launch the six satellites in a series of three phases with the first beginning January 8, 2022. The final phase will be completed by the end of July.

TROPICS is part of a larger NASA program called Earth System Science Pathfinder (ESSP), which plans to use remote-sensing missions to gain deeper knowledge about Earth’s systems. It will put scientists in a better position to meet global challenges caused by climate change.


Conclusion

With the help of space satellites, NASA scientists will expand their knowledge base of Earth’s natural processes and prediction capabilities of severe weather resulting from climate change. It’s yet another example of how technology can help facilitate solutions to problems presented to humans by nature. Ultimately, data communications through space, and the resulting analysis of that data, are what will contribute to improvements in the quality and safety of life on Earth for all.


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