Browse Resources by Year
Communications technologies also play a key role in the security sector because they can deliver communication services unaffected by disruption or lack of terrestrial communications infrastructure.
Read MoreSince 1999, the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime has made extensive use of satellite imagery in its Illicit Crop Monitoring Programme (ICPM), helping national governments and the international community monitor and track the production of illicit crops.
Read MoreSpace services are proving their utility in fighting international crime. In January 2009 the U.S. commercial remote sensing firm GeoEye reported that its IKONOS satellite had located and taken high-resolution pictures of the oil supertanker MV Sirius Star in the Indian Ocean after the ship had been hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia.
Read MoreNational governments employ satellite-based remote sensing technology to improve their ability to monitor and maintain security of national borders. In the wake of the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the Indian government accelerated plans for a reconnaissance satellite focused on military applications.
Read MoreAn example of a transportation technology spinoff is the development of a multi-use foam, called TEEK, that insulates sound, heat, and cold. Invented by researchers from the Advanced Materials and Processing Branch at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, the polyimide foam insulates propellant tanks on the space shuttle.
Read MoreThe disappearance and crash of Air France Flight 477 over the Atlantic in June 2009, with 228 passengers and crew aboard, drew attention to a gap in the worldwide aviation system that space services can address. The initial inability of search crews to locate the aircraft stemmed in part from a lack of continuous communication and monitoring capability.
Read MoreGPS tracking delivers valuable service to the public transportation sector. The Washington, D.C., Metro system and the San Francisco Muni Metro both use NextBus, a GPS-based passenger information system that finds the specific location of the metro train or bus.
Read MorePreparing to make advances in the shipping industry is COM DEV, a Canadian satellite manufacturer that is developing a global ship identification and tracking service for use by maritime and coastal authorities.
Read MoreThe Norwegian Coast Guard finds satellite imagery vital for identifying the exact location of icebergs and ice floes in order to protect ship traffic. Kongsberg Satellite Services provides satellite imagery of the Arctic Ocean captured by ESA’s Envisat satellite and Canada’s RADARSAT-1 satellite.
Read MoreIn-flight broadband internet, a concept brought to market over the past decade with limited initial success, is beginning to show promise. Using upgraded technologies including satellite solutions, the company Row 44 provides internet access, voice services, cellular roaming, and live television to specially-equipped aircraft.
Read More