Browse Resources by Year

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.

Satellite Infrastructure Supports Middle East Media

Satellite communications play a very important role in developing nations, which often lack extensive ground-based infrastructure. In order to improve its broadcasting capabilities, Iraq is in the process of deploying new satellite television terminals to operate within the Arab States Broadcasting Union. This group serves as the umbrella organization for Arab government-owned radio and television channels, promoting media broadcasting and content development in the region.

Vatican Library Saved by Heavenly Technology

Governments also employ space technology to safeguard important and culturally significant artifacts. When the Vatican library needed to digitize antique books, it turned to a data format originally developed for storing astronomical data. The “flexible image transport system” (FITS) was developed jointly by NASA and ESA in the 1970s and features several qualities that make it well suited for digitally archiving the Vatican collection.

Astronomers Reach Out to Developing World

The importance of space as a driver for education also extends to other parts of the world. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has begun implementing a strategic plan titled “Astronomy for the Developing World.” The resulting Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) is hosted at the South African Astronomical Observatory. The OAD uses the scientific, technological, and cultural benefits of astronomy as a development tool by soliciting and funding project proposals, hosting visiting experts, and organizing a variety of astronomy-themed educational events.

NASA Helps with STEM-infused Learning

The space industry plays a vital role in supporting government, enabling education, and providing critical infrastructure. Particularly in developing countries, satellite services are able to meet communication needs in the absence of ground-based networks, while remote sensing and GPS satellites are used to facilitate humanitarian relief efforts and human rights monitoring.

Better, More Efficient, Solar Power

Space technology has also inspired innovative energy solutions. NASA’s Glenn Research Center is supporting two spinoff projects by the GreenField Solar and Entech Solar companies to develop advanced solar arrays for both space-based and terrestrial applications.

What’s Black, Brown, and White and Can be Seen From Space?

Earth observation satellites can facilitate wildlife surveys over large remote areas. A group of researchers from the University of Minnesota’s Polar Geospatial Center, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the Australian Antarctic Division applied advanced image processing techniques to high-resolution satellite images taken of emperor penguin colonies to estimate their total population.

Satellite Earth Observation Data Predict Drought

Drought conditions are a contributing factor to wildfires, but they also have their own environmental impact. The MODIS instruments on NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites observed a severe impact on plant growth from the drought affecting large portions of the United States during the summer of 2012.