China
2012 – Land Imaging
Land imaging satellite performance is described using a variety of characteristics, including differences in spatial resolution (as measured by how many pixels compose an object), positional accuracies (as measured by the extent to which objects are represented accurately), and spectral capabilities (as measured by wavelengths of light captured, including visible and beyond-visible spectra). High-resolution land imaging satellites have resolutions below 1 meter (3 feet) per pixel, allowing users to distinguish cars from trucks, for example.
2012 – Remote Sensing Ground Networks
Ground facilities support space infrastructure by controlling spacecraft or processing the data that satellites gather and send to Earth. Remote sensing satellites orbit the Earth, gathering data that then needs to be archived, processed, and analyzed while the satellites themselves need to be tasked and targeted to collect imagery in the most efficient manner possible. To perform these tasks, commercial remote sensing satellite operators have established networks of satellite control stations, data reception stations, and data processing centers.
2012 – Chinese Spaceports
China is also in the process of building a new spaceport, the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center (WSLC), on the Chinese island of Hainan, in the South China Sea. It will host the new Long March 5 rocket series, as well as successor vehicles. Construction started on the center in late 2007 and is expected to be completed in 2013, allowing for a first launch in 2014.
2012 – Spaceports as an Economic Engine
The Falcon 9 launch vehicle carrying the Dragon C2 spacecraft lifts off from the SpaceX launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The Dragon was the first commercial spacecraft to successfully dock with the ISS and return to Earth, splashin… Thank you for visiting The Space Report! The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity,…
2012 – Launch Industry
In 2012, ## orbital launches were attempted, carrying ## payloads, including satellites, interplanetary probes, and flights to the International Space Station (ISS). Compared to the 2011 total of ## launch attempts, this represents a #% decrease. Of these ## launches, ## placed their primary payloads into orbit.
2012 – Chinese Government Space Budget
Responsibility for Chinese space activities is shared by several agencies, including the China National Space Administration (CNSA), which serves as the public civil face of the Chinese space program, and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which operates the country’s overall government space program, including human spaceflight, as well as all Chinese launch facilities. The structure and organization of the Chinese space program are not transparent. This makes obtaining credible data on the Chinese national space enterprise, including budget and organization, difficult.
2012 – Demographics
Considering the number of doctoral degrees earned in science and engineering, the European Union has the greatest proportion, followed by China and the United States. As with first university degrees, China has been rapidly increasing the number of doctoral science and engineering degrees granted since the early 2000s.
2012 – Top-level Trends
Science and engineering education provides the advanced skills required for a competitive space workforce. It also cultivates the expertise needed for research and innovation. Understanding trends in the production of highly skilled scientists and engineers can provide an indication of long-term prospects for the space workforce.
2012 – Other Space Employment
There are more than 50 countries with space programs in all regions of the world. Although it is not possible to get detailed statistics on many of these groups from year to year, it is possible to gather estimates that give some indication of overall size. Exhibit 4w provides estimates of the size of the space workforce in a variety of national space agencies.
2012 – Building Space Infrastructure and Achieving Mission Objectives Within Reduced Budgets
Today, nations are under pressure to replace aging satellite infrastructure while continuing to deploy new satellite systems and achieve the related mission objectives within the constraints of tighter budgets. The situation is particularly challenging in the United States, where all government agen… Thank you for visiting The Space Report! The Authoritative Guide to Global Space…