Space Travel / Benefits of space

Let us not forget space has already given numerous applications that we use on a daily basis. Just to name a few, we have communication satellites, wireless cell phones and paging systems.

Does space exploration make us only dream by showing astronauts floating in weightlessness, robots roaming on planets surfaces or by revealing wonders of the Universe? Besides Velcro or advanced super materials and micro-electronics, what have we gained from the billions of $ invested in space research in the last fifty years?  

Reports tell us space exploration has allowed to develop or improve quantities of material and technical means. We talk about «revolutionary» fibres, miniaturization of equipment, fast growth of computer programming and so on… only to justify astronomical funds dedicated to space exploration. This is what is called space program «payback». However, the real «paybacks» fall completely in another category. They consist mainly of daily services rendered by civilian and military satellite applications.

Satellites that change our daily routine
In fact, many types of satellites have nonetheless changed our existence. On top of the list, let us think about the communication satellites which have transformed our world into a «global village» where situations and events happening anywhere are spread instantaneously throughout the globe.

Not only do we know what is going on at any moment on the planet because of the communication satellites, but we also ensure exchanges between people at opposite sides of the planet and this, in a reliable manner. These exchanges ease business transactions as well as personal relationships and allow numerous ties between individuals and ethnic groups. Many years ago, the «unknown» scared some as opposed to today, because of instant communication, is now attractive. In other words: the satellites are bringing us closer to each other every day.  

Blue planet surveillance
Another type of satellites which «revolutionizes» our vision of the world are the meteoroligical engines, showing us weather observations every night on prime time news. Not only the satellites contribute to establish weather forecasts but allow witnessing the birth and progression of hurricanes and storms, the evolution of natural phenomenas such as floods, volcano eruptions, disturbances caused by El Nino and more. How can we assess thousands of lives saved by meteoroligical satellites? No one has the answer but it leaves no doubt.

Satellites for peace
Another class of satellites, not well known and mostly not appreciated, is the military engine. Contrary to popular belief, these engines do not participate in conflicts of war but mostly serve as peace keepers on Earth.

In fact, the majority of the 3500 military satellites in orbit are spy engines. A great number of these satellites are equipped with powerful cameras which scrutinize the surface, searching for military activities. Another type of spy satellites intercept enemy military communications (and more), allowing to follow equipment and troops movement along with a number of military activities.  

Now the experts agree to say this surveillance has played a major role in keeping world peace, mostly during the great «cold war» between the U.S.A. and the Soviets from 1960 to 1990. For three decades, both rivals kept aim at each other with hundreds of ballistic nuclear missiles ready to launch at the press of a button. Since both could monitor each other’s activities in real time because of data picked up by the satellites, we were able to prevent a preventive launch thinking the enemy was doing the same.

GPS satellite
Finally, another member of the military satellites family – this one, well known but that most people ignore being a military service – is the G.P.S. navigation system. These satellites help us determine our location anywhere on land or at sea with pinpoint accuracy; thousands of people use this device daily to get safe orientation, accurate directions or navigation. The first purpose of this system was the need for the military to guide their ships, planes and missiles. Interesting fact now is that the general public being able to use this popular «space» service.