United States
Studying Climate and Weather From Space
A new spacecraft launched in 2009 is helping scientists to understand how Earth’s climate and weather systems work. The European Space Agency launched the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) Earth Explorer satellite in November 2009.
Why Is the Grass Greener In the Neighbor’s Yard? Landsat Might Have the Answer
In the United States, the state government of Idaho uses a water-use mapping system based on data from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Landsat satellites. The system can identify the amount of water being used in individual fields and supports decisions to enable more sustainable water consumption practices.
Measuring Groundwater Levels Through Gravity
Satellites provide a way to take repeated measurements over time, enabling the tracking of changes in resource levels. In 2009, authorities in India partnered with NASA to study water use in northwest India, ultimately finding that prevailing practices were unsustainable.
Can’t See the Trees, For the Forest No Longer Exists
In December 2009, Google unveiled software that allows users to monitor deforestation online. The software extracts information from decades of satellite images and provides access to raw satellite imagery as well as analytical data such as locations and the measurements of deforestation.
International Partnership Releases Global Terrain Map
Remote sensing satellites, operated by governments and private companies, provide a wide-perspective view of Earth that enables applications at local and regional levels in the energy, resources, and environmental management sectors.
A View to A Thrill–Inauguration Seen with Overhead Assets
Google uses the GeoEye-1 satellite for projects including Google Earth and Google Maps. In January 2009, Google had exclusive use of the images of the inauguration of President Obama that GeoEye produced from a satellite orbiting 423 miles above Capitol Hill.
Seeing the World Through Astronaut Eyes
Several new products and services in the entertainment sector emerged in 2009 utilizing satellite image and video relay capabilities. NASA posted a “Live Space Station Video” link on its web site in March 2009 that displays live video from outside the ISS.
Satellite Radio and Navigation Gaming
The Apple iPhone and other competing products continued to evolve throughout 2009, offering new features and applications enhanced through satellite technology. SIRIUS XM Radio debuted SkyDock, the first radio dock for the iPhone, essentially transforming the smartphone into a satellite radio.
Satellite Communications and Navigation for Snow Dogs
Satellite technology is used to both protect and assist competitors in the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across Alaska, using GPS services supported by the Iridium communications satellite system. The Iditarod Trail Committee is now requiring that the tracking device, provided by race-tracking company IonEarth, be attached to each dog sled.
Integrating Gaming with GPS
The satellite-based GPS network provides the basis for a number of new products. Garmin, Magellan, and other manufacturers have created innovative units such as a waterproof handheld GPS device for golfers that calculates distances to the green and other points on a golf course, providing the user with precise information for club selection and strategy.