United Nations
2019 TSRQ4 – Space Policy
In 2018, significant policy developments helped shape the future space economy. At the international level, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) released its . . .
2015 – Israeli Government Space Budget – Snapshot
The Israel Space Agency (ISA) is in charge of civil and commercial space activities, which are estimated at US$1 billion for 2015. It also coordinates closely with…
2013 – Space Products and Services Overview
Space products and services developed over the course of decades have altered the way people relate to both their planet and each other. Constellations of satellites orbiting the Earth provide a steady stream of information. Detailed forecasts provided by weather satellites as well as environmental monitoring and resource tracking by Earth observation satellites serve to improve the way humanity understands its surroundings.
2013 – Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) Satellite Design Activities
Over the past few years, several companies have deployed new satellites designed to use the relatively less crowded Ka-band set of frequencies to support delivery of space-based internet broadband. Operators such as Eutelsat, Avanti Communications in the United Kingdom, and ViaSat in the United… This article is for subscribers. Please sign up for a subscription…
2013 – An Evolving Space Industry: Commoditization, Differentiation, and the Rise of Regional Operators
The space industry is evolving, moving from a phase of testing and development in the mid-20th century, to limited satellite coverage and use by specialists in the late 20th century, to ubiquitous coverage and broad consumer adoption in the early 21st century. At the same time, traditional satellite… This article is for subscribers. Please sign…
Coordinating Aid with GPS
Increasingly, United Nations and international nongovernmental workers dealing with humanitarian needs in war-torn countries, such as Iraq and Somalia, are relying on GPS technologies to coordinate aid remotely.
Satellite Sentinel Records Humanitarian Abuses
The Satellite Sentinel Project, a collaboration between Google, the United Nations Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT), the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, and other nongovernmental organizations, is attempting to use similar technology to monitor, and hopefully deter, humanitarian abuses.
World Heritage Sites Protected Using Satellite Imagery
To protect sites around the world, the Global Heritage Fund, in cooperation with Google Earth and DigitalGlobe, has put together a program called the Global Heritage Network to provide satellite monitoring of World Heritage Sites.
Disaster Charter Helped Japanese Recovery Efforts
When Japan was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, more than 63 satellite observations were made in the first 48 hours following the event. Japan invoked the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters, which ensures that satellite images are freely available to authorities and aid workers.
2011 – Space Policy: Programs and Progress Snapshot
As space activities across the globe become more dynamic—blending commercial, government, and cross-border activities—governments increasingly see a need for a formal space policy to provide a framework for coordination and integration of activities. Effective space policy can foster public interest… This article is for subscribers. Please sign up for a subscription or login below.