2008
Immersive 3-D Technology Coming to a Hotel Near You
IPIX is a new technology developed for NASA using 3-D “immersive” photography and video to allow a user to view a photographed environment with the same spatial awareness that they would experience in person. Originally intended to guide space robots, the technology is finding applications of benefit to a number of commercial enterprises.
Restoring Satellite Service Access After Disasters
Maintaining business continuity during and after natural or man-made disasters continues to evolve as a well-established satellite network application. Following hurricanes Gustav and Ike in September 2008, ViaSat quickly repaired or installed ground-based satellite terminals.
Competition in In-flight Internet Access
A new in-flight Internet provider, Row 44, which utilizes Hughes’ satellite network, will begin deploying service to North America commercially in 2009. Southwest and Alaska airlines are Row 44’s current customers.
Better Bandwidth with Upgraded Satellite Modems
Some of the key advances in satellite services technology are in ground equipment, particularly modems and routers. One of the leaders in this sector, Hughes Network Systems, in 2008 released an advanced networking device that can optimize corporate network bandwidth and reduce hardware complexity.
Shuttle Stress Analyzers Relieve Infrastructure Strain
Several product lines of fiber optic-based stress and strain analyzers have been created from a NASA technology spinoff developed to monitor structural strain on the Space Shuttle. The technology is unique because it can analyze stress and strain on components without requiring the disassembly of the Space Shuttle.
Enhancing Medical Education with Satellite Broadband
The VideoSat for Distance Learning program leverages satellite broadband and broadcast capabilities to provide continuing medical education. The new system, under development in 2008 by ESA and industry partners, aims to improve upon previous satellite-based distance learning systems by innovative use of video simulation technology supported by a user-friendly set-top box.
Pinpointing Pollution Prior to Olympics
Beijing Olympic organizers used remote sensing data from a U.S. satellite to analyze aerosol levels in and around Beijing before the games. The data enabled researchers to pinpoint reasons for the pollution and suggest ways to reduce it.
Disaster Charter Provides Timely Imagery to Response Teams
One of the key challenges in a flood involves getting timely and accurate information regarding flood-affected areas. Satellite imagery can mitigate the magnitude of flood damage by providing response teams with an overall image of the flooded area.
Tagging Disaster Areas in Satellite Imagery
Scandicraft, a Norwegian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) service provider, has developed a system that “geotags,” or marks the physical location of, aerial images from a disaster area and uploads the images via satellite link within minutes.
Locating Oil Well Locations Using Gravity
In support of the oil and gas industry, a U.K.-based company has used technology from an ESA gravity mission to develop a gravity strength sensor, or gravity gradiometer, to help find the most appropriate locations for drilling and to plan further exploration.