How can space technology help us solve problems in the third world?

Paper number

IAC-05-E5.P.01

Author

Mrs. Christina Aas, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, The Netherlands

Year

2005

Abstract

Many people in society today are looking for reasons to explore space. Although space industry is the fastest growing and most profitable industry in Norway today, people still want reasons to why we should prioritize space research in our nations budget. Why should so many of this worlds nations spend money developing space stations, planning trips to Mars, send probes to other planets and so forth? What does the space industry give us in return? 
Very few people outside the space community know much about what space has been giving to us over the years. With this paper, I try to shine a light on the possibilities of multipurpose useage of space equipment. Especially see how space technology can help us close the gap in development between the first and the third world. In my research for background material for this paper, I asked three important questions: What types of challenges does the third world face? The third world is faced with the difficulty of overpopulation, illiteracy, poverty, illness and diseases, poor housing, natural disasters, low access to clean drinking water, communication difficulties, war effects like landmines, sanitation and hygiene, energy sources, deforestation and desertification, insufficient transportation possibilities and much more. 
The second question I had to ask was: What kind of technology have space research and space activities given us? Ever since Sputnik went up into space in 1957, mankind have tried its best to evolve its ways of gaining information from the empty space around. We have developed the mercury program, gemini program, apollo program, the space shuttles, MIR, ISS (International Space Station) and Skylab. 
The last question I had to ask myself was: Which different functionalities do satellites offer us? Satellites can be used for communication, instant positioning of vehicles and people and monitoring the Earth and its many resources. Satellites give the advantage of being able to "see" large areas simultanously. Satellites can observe the Earth at nighttime and through thick fog and clouds. This gives us a constant monitoring system that can cover the entire planet, which is especially useful when looking for forest fires and damage assessments, predicting storms such as the El Niño and giving a useful weather forecast. The areas in which one can find a use for satellite technology span from naval surveillance to monitoring vegetation in connection to deforestation and desertification to getting a general idea of the composition of gases in our atmosphere, especially ozon. Satellites are also used to connect people through cellular phones, radios and satellite television. 
The question in this paper, is how we can make this technology available to the third world and help solve their challenges. I will begin by giving a definition of the term Third World, and show different aspects of their daily challenges. Then I will give examples of the relevans of this paper and explain the different types of space activities that has led to the derived technology. I will also talk about different types of satellites and the orbits they use, before I get more detailed on the problems of the third world and the possible solutions for them.

Abstract document

IAC-05-E5.P.01.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-05-E5.P.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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