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A new application of GPS technology is making star-gazing more accessible. The telescope manufacturer Meade’s mySKY handheld digital astrolabe uses a GPS sensor and a magnetic compass to identify celestial objects.
Read MoreThe first mission intended to “touch and examine water on Mars,” was launched by NASA in August of 2007. The Martian probe Phoenix was scheduled to land in May 2008 near the Martian North Pole. From this location, the Phoenix mission involves direct observation of the water cycle, assessing the history of water on Mars and its effect on weather.
Read MoreA new X PRIZE competition, sponsored by Google, began in 2007. The Google Lunar X PRIZE is a $30 million competition designed to stimulate entrepreneurial activity and investment. The prize will be awarded to the first team able to land a privately funded robotic rover on the lunar surface capable of roaming 500 meters and sending still images, video, and other data back to Earth.
Read MoreIn 2007, a number of robotic probes and planetary landers were launched as several nations developed their space exploration programs. Among these launches were the first lunar orbiters from Japan and China.
Read MoreNew technologies allow satellites to play a key role in Virtual Private Networks (VPN) — the ability to have secure network communications over the Internet. This provides a relatively inexpensive solution to management and communications challenges of geographically dispersed companies.
Read MoreThe Space Report 2006 noted the increasing trend of retail stores delivering advertising content through digital signage. Recent market research has shown that digital signage, or narrowcasting, is becoming increasingly popular and is on a path to sustainable growth.
Read MoreGPS receivers are being integrated into mapping and camera equipment. “Geotagging,” a complementary application for digital photography, records coordinates from a GPS receiver in the metadata of photographs.
Read MoreSlacker, a new model of satellite and Internet radio that combines the portability of satellite radio with the customization features of personal audio devices, was launched in 2007 by a San Diego-based start-up company of the same name.
Read MoreInmarsat, a provider of mobile satellite services, released the IsatPhone in summer 2007, a handheld voice and data phone that overcomes some of the disadvantages of traditional satellite phones, such as the lack of coverage indoors and in urban canyons, by its ability to communicate via standard cell phone networks.
Read MoreDIRECTV, one of two major direct-to-home (DTH) providers serving North America, unveiled a portable satellite TV in January 2007. The portable TV unit houses a 17-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) screen in a carrying case that resembles a briefcase. An antenna, rather than a dish, receives signals from DIRECTV’s satellites.
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