2012
Beefing Up Military Satellite Communications
The U.S. Department of Defense launched its first Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite in February 2012. With four more planned satellites, MUOS will provide global ultra-high-frequency (UHF) communications coverage, which has the advantage of being resistant to signal blockages by foliage, urban structures, or inclement weather.
Making Afghan Communications A SNAP
Beginning in 2012, new satellite communications terminals are being deployed at Afghan National Police Training Centers. The new access points are able to provide both classified and unclassified network access, which increases operational security while conserving valuable secure bandwidth.
Wing Sensor Improves Driver Odds During Crash
Space technology has also been adapted by Volkswagen to create safer cars. A very thin sensor strip originally developed by ESA to measure pressures on the wing of a space plane turned out to be well-suited for use in automotive crash testing.
Vibrating Spacecraft Leads to Underground Sonic Scanners
Space technology has even enabled “seeing” through solid rock, a feat that is being used in tunnel drilling applications. By analyzing the way sound waves move through rock, underlying geological features can be revealed.
Satellite Navigation and Timber Management
From 2011 to 2013, the ESA Business Incubation Center in Bavaria is hosting WASP-Logistik, which has been developing software that takes computer code originally developed for satellite navigation and applies it to timber management.
“I’ve Got a Golden GPS!”
Inspired by the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Nestlé devised its own version of the Golden Ticket contest, but with a decidedly space-age twist. Customers in the United Kingdom and Ireland who discover one of six GPS trackers packaged with a Nestlé chocolate bar will win £10,000 ($15,706).
Apollo Dress Shirts?
Innovative companies are constantly looking for new ways to bring spacederived technology to the retail market. A company started by MIT graduates, called Ministry of Supply, is bringing phase-change materials used in NASA spacesuits to Earth as a product called the “Apollo dress shirt.” The fabric regulates heat, moisture, and body odor, while maximizing wearer comfort. To fund the development, Ministry of Supply started a crowd-funding campaign via the Kickstarter website.
South African Space-based Internet
Satellite internet is a suitable alternative to conventional cellular and ground-based internet for businesses and farmers operating in remote or difficult-to-reach areas. In 2012, MWEB Business launched a new satellite internet service in South Africa that is designed to benefit farmers, game lodge owners, mining and construction companies, and other customers in areas of the country where conventional services are unavailable. Satellite-based services are also immune to cable theft, a common problem in many developing areas, which can affect the availability of fixed-line communication infrastructure in the region.
Greater Grape Yields in South Africa, Using Less Water
Vineyards in South Africa recently began using satellite data to increase the yield of grape harvests and produce higher quality wine while using less water. The GrapeLook service provided by a company called WaterWatch was developed in collaboration with ESA, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in South Africa.
Verifying War Crimes Using Earth Observation Imagery
While having a robust and open media network is an important step for developing nations, satellites can also be used to monitor regions in political turmoil where free media is suppressed. During clashes between Syrian government forces and rebels, Amnesty International commissioned DigitalGlobe to provide satellite imagery of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, to document artillery shelling and attacks on noncombatants.