Charting a Course for the Future: Securing Satellites and Emerging Space Tech in the APAC

Aerospace and Defense Review | Friday, May 05, 2023

The exploration of space is also becoming global. More nations are now within reach of space than ever before, while the influx of entrepreneurial capital is driving innovation and new technologies in the private sector.

FREMONT, CA: The cost of using, implementing, and adapting space science and technology is falling in APAC as a result of new technological advancements. It is now possible to automatically extract insights from satellite photos for agricultural applications and poverty monitoring thanks to machine learning, big data, and cloud computing.

New applications that relate to the goals may be made possible by emerging satellite functionalities. Drones and other aerial vehicles could supplement satellite-based Earth observation. Crowdsourcing is also increasing the opportunities for citizen participation in space agencies, programs, and initiatives in both developed and least developed nations, to fill data gaps for a variety of applications (such as weather, climate change, air quality monitoring, and vector-borne disease monitoring).

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Users may be able to analyse massive volumes of Earth observation data more quickly and effectively with the help of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Convolutional neural networks, a deep learning technique, can be used to automate image recognition and classification tasks using remote sensing pictures with the right in-situ observations. As a result, the time and effort required by human analysts to analyse Earth observation data might be reduced to a minimum.

To efficiently use machine learning for Sustainable Development Goals, several worldwide breakthroughs have been made. For instance, the CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) organises initiatives to use machine learning, precision farming, and other cutting-edge approaches to address agricultural difficulties around the world. However, machine learning models are only as good as the data on which they are trained, and the applicability of the model for the precise and reliable prediction can be determined by the quality of the data.

Several advancements in aerial platforms and satellite positioning technologies have the potential to help SDGs be met. Future uses of satellite positioning technology include some encouraging examples. First, information on atmospheric and tropospheric water content can be extracted from data from continuous recording reference stations for global positioning systems and utilised to update operational weather forecasts and enhance forecasts in regions with frequent heavy downpours. Second, due to the impact on the ionosphere, tests are being conducted to monitor the passage of tsunamis across ocean basins using data from continually recording stations for global positioning systems. A tsunami's source, an expected path across ocean basins, and potential damage can all be forecast 24 hours in advance if it is identified.

In comparison to satellites, drones can provide alternative, relatively inexpensive sources of Earth observation data, and they are rapidly being used in applications for crop prediction and food security. With the aid of aerial mapping, farmers may swiftly identify problem crop regions and avoid crop loss. For several thousand dollars, drones can be developed that have a range of over 100 kilometres on a single battery. However, in many nations, their use is frequently subject to legal restrictions. As a result, satellite data will probably continue to be used instead of cheaper drones as a source of Earth observation data, despite its relatively greater cost.

In the upcoming years, satellite constellations are also set to be a major force in the space economy. There can be an increase in demand for satellite integration, parts, and launchers as a result. In contrast to a single satellite, satellite constellations can offer worldwide or almost worldwide coverage, ensuring that at least one satellite is accessible at all times and from every location on Earth. However, to meet increasing demand brought on by reduced costs, launch service providers would have to boost both manufacturing and launch rates.

A further significant driver is a quickly expanding market for space data as a service, in which specialized businesses provide high-quality data directly to their clients. Satellite broadband is just one example of the numerous applications that are supported by the use of space-based data by governmental organisations, commercial enterprises, and academic institutions. The companies that offer communication and earth observation services stand to gain the most from satellite data. Specialised space corporations can create, possess, and run satellites that transmit data and communications for clients, freeing up end users to concentrate on growing their main businesses. Customers can use this solution to subscribe to space-based data services with unique data sets for specific use cases.

The term space value chain is used to describe the many stages (upstream, midstream, and downstream) and tasks involved in the conception, development, production, and utilisation of products and services connected to space. The space value chain is a multi-actor, intricately interconnected system that includes government space agencies, private space firms, academic institutions, and end users. The involvement of various players is necessary at each stage of the value chain since they are all interrelated. Along with cross-border and cross-sector cooperation, the value chain also entails the coordination of various forms of private and public investment.

There are a growing number of pure-play businesses entering the space value chain, which are made up of both established aerospace firms and startups with a space-related focus. While the majority of these businesses are exploring offering new and enhanced value-added services, many of them are primarily focused on the design, development, and construction of spacecraft. And although if a lot of the space industry's segments are still developing, in less than ten years, adoption might pick up speed.

Companies throughout the whole value chain of the space industry that provide the fundamental competencies may work together even more to build a network of financiers, developers, integrators, suppliers, government organisations, academic institutions, and research facilities. Through a dynamic, flexible, and all-encompassing network, this ecosystem can make it easier for businesses in the space market to collaborate and forge closer ties with stakeholders. This ecosystem might also encourage cooperation with other end markets, including transportation, which is developing important technologies like autonomous technology.

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