Will satellites and 5G spark a new world of mining?

VVVolVolVolVol o6 o6 66l l. .No. NoNo. No79 N N 55 oo5.. 4 June 2018 2021

AFRICA

SPECIAL EDITION

SPECIALThe rise REPOR of T Nigeria Dvirtualeployin greality traffic mino nspaceitoring teducationechnologies in Africa A new leader and player in the aerospace industry

C O N T E N T S Vol.9 No. 4

How to do business in space African star is rising Editor in-chief Aliyu Bello Enaire, Indra to launch a constellation Executive Manager Tonia Gerrald of satellites into orbit to improve air SA to the editor in-Chief Ngozi Okey traffic management Head, Application Services M. Yakubu Developing virtual reality technology Editorial/ICT Services John Daniel Swimming in familiar waters Usman Bello South Africa service revenue grew 7.0%, Alozie Nwankwo as Vodacom Group release Q1 result Juliet Nnamdi A visionary woman Client Relations Sunday Tache Reasons why Uber failed in China Lookman Bello An Engineer's Arctic Tale Safiya Thani Jupiter probe ready for testing Marketing Offy Pat Beyond the ice of Jupiter’s moons Tunde Nathaniel The rise of virtual reality in space education Wasiu Olatunde Will LEO satellites outwit the GEO satellites Media Relations Favour Madu Khadijat Yakubu Will satellites and 5G spark a new world of mining? Zacheous Felicia Finance Folarin Tunde Europe's space ambition Employee Spotlight Getting to know Gil Bialik Space Watch Magazine is a publication of Communication Science, Inc. All correspondence should be addressed to editor, space Watch Magazine. Abuja office: Plot 2009, Awka Street, UTC Building, SF 04, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria Tel: 234 80336471114, 07084706167, email: [email protected]

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1 INTERNATIONAL

How to do business in space

When we talk about small satellite applications, we are basically answering this question: What are they for? Space business is in constant evolution, since every year new businesses in space appear and also on the Internet. It is not the same in 2004, today, the list of applications of space is endless. Here are a few.

Space has become an accessible place. The evolution of technology and the emergence of small satellites have meant that startups, SMEs, large companies and emerging countries can reach space in an affordable way and within short periods of time, in a position to compete with traditional players in the sector. It's what is known as the New Space age. If we are talking about small satellite applications, everything comes down to this question: What do you want, and what can you carry as a payload in nanosatellites? Of course, that answer depends on the evolution of technology, your needs... and your imagination. Within the businesses in space that can be developed with the help of nanosatellites, there are massive sectors and also market niches. Earth and Space Observation Nanosatellites usually operate in low orbits (LEO). The current technology makes it possible to have latest-generation cameras for capturing high- resolution images. We are talking about tools with dimensions that fit perfectly to the size of small satellites. In this type of project, the payload of the nanosatellites is usually the camera.

Capturing images of the Earth. small satellites applications. Space has become platforms, or critical infrastructure such as One of the most widespread uses of small satellite an ideal solution to improve the efficiency of nuclear power plants, where land-based constellations. There are several companies existing terrestrial communication networks, communications are supported by satellite working on obtaining high quality images of our which have obvious limitations in their communications. planet. This is the case of a number of giants in the coverage. New Space sector, such as Planet Labs, which has In these projects, the satellite payload would be put more than 330 satellites in orbit since 2013. a device capable of receiving, storing and Communication in isolated processing information. For example, an SDR areas. Earth mapping. Satellites have also platform (Software Defined Radio). Let's take a In the 21st century, there are still places on the revolutionized the field of cartography. From the look at some of these services: planet that are virtually uncommunicated: large most remote to the most populated areas on Earth, rural areas, frozen areas, desert territories, small satellites provide accurate and up-to-date IoT and M2M jungle areas, the high seas... In this field, small maps of the entire planet. satellites offer very interesting solutions to communications. guarantee communication in all circumstances. By 2025 it is estimated that there will be more Astronomy. It's the other side of the coin when than 35.2 billion IoT connections worldwide and it comes to observation projects. We have already that the global market for this sector will reach Mobile telephony. Unlike the previous seen that high resolution images of the Earth can be 950 billion euros. IoT-based business models section, we are already talking about the whole captured, but there are also services that point in the require real-time information on all types of planet, not just remote areas. At a time when we opposite direction: the use of small satellites to sensors and connected devices, a terrain where can say that smartphones have transformed our obtain information and images of outer space. A few small satellite constellations can be key, lives, there are mobile phone projects from months ago, for example, the CubeSat ASTERIA especially in isolated or difficult-to-access companies such as Sky and Space Global, to successfully completed its mission of measuring the areas. From space you can receive, store and ensure stable and secure communication, with transit of an exoplanet known as 55 Cancrie. Another forward information to any point in real time. global voice, data and instant messaging proposal underway in this field involves the use of services. small satellites as “guide stars” for latest generation telescopes, which require stable references to Remote management. Through Repeaters for radio amateurs. investigate and obtain quality images of distant sensors, it is possible to remotely control the Small satellites have also demonstrated their planets and celestial bodies. correct operation of all types of devices. It's not ability to function as communications repeaters just about receiving the information, but also for the three million registered amateur radio sending commands for certain settings or operators worldwide. IoT and Communications configurations remotely, virtually in real time and The Internet of Things (IoT), machine-to-machine anywhere on the planet, no matter how isolated. communication (M2M), telephony and Internet Think of projects in hard-to-reach areas such as Internet access. According to data access have become some of the most common Antarctica, the Amazon basin or offshore from a year ago, only 55.1 percent of the world's

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disappearance of planes in shaded areas. There are already nanosatellite-based solutions for ADS-B systems that make it possible to increase safety, improve air traffic control, receive certain information provided by flight sensors in real time and know at all times the exact location of the aircraft. Science and Environment This is a very broad category. From a radar to a micro-laboratory for experiments in space, in these applications the payload of satellites depends on the objectives of each project.

Meteorology. Small satellites are called upon to play an important role in storm detection and in the development of climate and weather models that help improve weather forecasts. For example, NASA has already entered the testing phase of the RainCube project (Radar in a CubeSat), for the location, tracking and analysis of rain and snow storms all over the planet. Protection of the environment. This is a type of practical application that affects population has access to the Internet. There is a us closely, due to the participation of the Alén significant technology gap, favouring richer countries Ship tracking (AIS). The use of Space team in the development of the and urban areas. Today, several projects have small satellites is a solution that helps to nanosatelite Lume-1 within the European already been launched to provide universal access to improve the safety of all types of vessels and to project FireRS. In this case, the objective is the the internet, even in remote locations. Once again, control some problems that often affect early detection and monitoring of forest fires, small satellites are playing a key role in that maritime traffic. Think of illegal fishing or piracy, but there are many other solutions based on revolution. for example. S-AIS systems (Satellite-Based small satellites related to the environment. Automatic Identification Systems) are Whether with optical instruments or sensors Asset Tracking available for this purpose. With the help of (IoT), we are talking about projects for the fight Geolocation and space have been closely related for nanosatellites, it is possible to compensate for against ocean pollution, the detection of oil years. There are systems such as GPS, Galileo, the limitations of terrestrial networks, spills and spills, the monitoring of marine life, GLONASS or BeiDou. In the case of nanosatellites, especially in areas of low coverage, and to the control of desertification, the study of the asset tracking, as we saw a few days ago in this blog, ensure at all times the location and control progress of melting ice or the protection of areas is also one of its main fields of action.

As in IoT and communications applications, the payload in asset tracking projects has to be a device capable of collecting the information sent from the Earth, storing it and transmitting it back to Earth stations. Small satellites are an ideal solution to guarantee a stable, precise service with total coverage anywhere on the planet. What are the main practical applications of small satellites in this field? Let's see the most important ones.

Fleet management. Satellite tracking of all types of vehicles (cars, trucks, buses, industrial machinery...) has been a reality for years. Nanosatellite constellations also have the ability to reinforce traditional networks and provide solutions for precise control of vehicles and mobile resources, even in isolated areas.

Logistics. From products with a value of just a few cents to others that can cost several million euros, logistics companies move an enormous amount of goods every day. Today we are used to knowing the location in real time and the estimated time of arrival of any product, no matter its price. All the more so if we are talking about logistics of vessels. of special environmental importance (such as containers, luxury goods, machinery or very valuable the Serpens project, in the Amazon basin), or delicate goods, which may require controlled among other initiatives. transport conditions (temperature, movement...) and Aircraft tracking (ADS-B). ADS- various means of transport to reach their destination B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance - (road, rail, airplane, ship...), from one side of the Broadcast) terrestrial systems provide Agriculture. As in many other sectors, planet to the other. Small satellite constellations are accurate information in seconds in very well technology has also transformed the traditional also an effective solution to improve security, control communicated areas. It's not the same in concept of agriculture. Crop yield mentoring is and traceability in the logistics sector. remote areas. Some of the biggest air another possible use of small satellites. Among tragedies of recent years have to do with the

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Space exploration. Within NASA's InSight mission, the MarCO A and B nanosatellites became in November 2018 the first two CubeSats to travel into deep space, with the mission to provide real-time telemetry of InSight's landing on Mars. This milestone has marked a starting point for small satellites to gradually gain prominence in the field of space exploration. Other small satellite applications We should not forget that the possible practical applications of small satellites are very extensive. All you have to do is have an idea... and get it up and running. In fact, there are projects for the development of business in space related to certain market niches, which do not fit into any of the previous sections.

Space mining. Some private companies have already begun to consider the exploitation of water, mineral and energy resources located in outer space. Last year, for example, a CubeSat was launched as part of a mission to locate and collect water in asteroids, with the aim of promoting future human expansion in space. the benefits, a better control of harvests, the programmes related to their national security, improvement of the quality of agricultural among others, for action in emergency products, the detection of diseases in crops, the situations. Space debris clean-up evaluation by insurance companies of damage The most modern small satellites are designed caused to harvests by certain meteorological to enter the Earth's atmosphere once their events (storms, hail, floods...), or analysis of the Signals Intelligence (SIGINT). If mission is over, so that they disintegrate without repercussions derived from the periods of we are talking about monitoring the radioelectric leaving a trace, but this has not always been the drought. and electromagnetic spectrum, the practical case. Space debris can become a threat to applications of nanosatellites are very varied. satellites and space vehicles, but there are Think of identifying signals from the Earth and already projects with small satellites studying In-Orbit Demonstration. IOD (In- space, monitoring communication traffic patterns, how this debris can be removed, such as the Orbit Demonstration) missions allow low-cost detecting interference and locating its origin, RemoveDebris mission. testing of space components. This practical preventing the illegal use of radio bands and application of small satellites fits perfectly with unauthorized emissions, etc. Projection of advertising R&D projects, as a last step and guarantee before the commercialization of technology from space. destined to be used later in space. We must not Prevention, disaster You may have thought of the famous Batman forget the enormous growth potential of the warning sign, but this is not a comic or a movie. aerospace sector and the constant appearance management and We are talking about a reality with several of technological innovations. No element can be humanitarian aid. projects already underway for the project of left to chance, so all that technology has to be In crisis situations, such as earthquakes, commercial messages in the night sky with the tested in real conditions... or as real as possible. tsunamis or hurricanes, small satellites make it help of CubeSats. And what better way to make sure they will work possible to act quickly, to immediately know the in space than to test them in orbit? extent of the damage (even in isolated areas) and to manage relief and rescue teams. Preventive Putting into orbit any object work is also possible. you can imagine. Scientific projects. Small satellites For example, a system of sensors and buoys in the This application groups together all those have opened up space to companies and ocean can detect in advance the arrival of a business ideas that are based on the putting organizations that until recently could not dream tsunami or a sensor in a reservoir can into orbit of anything that may pass through our of such an opportunity. The development of automatically generate a warning message in the mind. Let's start with the most exotic. Would we scientific experiments outside the Earth has event that the water reaches a dangerous level. like our remains to rest forever in outer space? become another common application of small With the support of nanosatellites, it is also There is already a space funerals project that satellites. Think, for example, of a research team possible to collect information and data from allows us to take our ashes or those of a loved that wants to develop a project related to the certain areas of the planet (not only in the case of one into space with the help of small satellites. behaviour in space of certain technological or natural disasters or specific emergency Let's not forget the evocative power of space. biochemical materials. The possibilities are situations), which allow the planning of Therefore, other business ideas also raise the enormous. humanitarian aid. orbit of more spiritual or romantic messages. Imagination is the limit. Security, Defence and Control of potential threats The New Space sector is constantly expanding, National Space Programmes from outer space. and the forecasts point to an exponential growth For many years, space was a territory reserved If you've thought of asteroids and movies like of the businesses in space in the next years. for a handful of countries. Only the great 'Armageddon' have come to mind, you'll be Therefore, it is important to understand that superpowers could afford space programs and surprised to learn that you're not too far off the these 26 possible applications of small satellites their own satellite networks, but the emergence mark. The applications of small satellites in this are only the tip of the iceberg that the future may of New Space has changed that forever. field have so far focused on the study and possible hold. The so-called democratisation of space has diversion of potentially dangerous asteroids for reached not only companies and startups, but our planet, such as the Hera project of the Companies are beginning to assume that also countries that want to launch their first space European Space Agency (ESA). Science fiction space is the last frontier of business... and project or wish to strengthen their current comes true. that's an opportunity that's already here. capabilities. In some cases, these are

4 BROADCASTING

African star is rising

content to be shared on Africa's own media expensive when it must be paid for in US Africa's star is rising. The continent is taking its platforms. dollars. place on the global stage as demand for our unique At Multichoice, we are proud to be a part of this Homegrown, hyperlocal content strikes a and exciting contribution to the world increases. journey, helping to create platforms and make blow against this homogenisation of culture Africa's presence is finding expression in investments that support this evolution. by celebrating what makes us unique. At the numerous fields, but in few areas has it been as As content producers, we also understand how same time, it creates opportunities for entire pronounced as in the creative arts and critical it is that we not only tell our own stories, but industries. Every time we create local content entertainment. that we do so using the highest possible instead of simply purchasing an international Who did not celebrate the appearance of African standards and production values. We need to series, hundreds of opportunities are created brands like Maxhosa by Laduma at New York raise the bar so that we can also play on the for African writers, actors, directors, Fashion Week? Who, indeed was not excited to international stage alongside countries like Brazil, producers, show-runners, caterers, stylists see our cultures taking pride of place in movies like India, Turkey, and South Korea. But more and others. Black Panther, or in Beyonce's extended video for importantly we need to be the best we can for our In South Africa, the local filmmaking industry Spirit + Bigger? audiences who deserve nothing less and are has been facilitating international movies, Listen to the Alicia Keys Wasted Energy remix highly appreciative of the added enjoyment that series and commercials for decades. The featuring Tanzania's Diamond Platnumz, and tell quality, locally resonant storytelling provides. country already exports talent and me it doesn't warm your African heart! These are Quite rightly they are also unforgiving of anything productions to the rest of the world, especially real signs of African achievement, and an that falls short of the high standards they have in commercial production. Now it's time to acknowledgement of the rich culture that has come to expect. work with our talented industries to take inspired people in so many other parts of the world. To help to realise this vision, we take a African stories further afield. Authentic representation matters: global “hyperlocal” approach, producing relevant In other territories, such as Kenya, Ghana, audiences are hungry for new voices and being content within the respective regions of our Uganda and Nigeria, similar nodes of creative positively acknowledged at home and abroad continent, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all and professional excellence are taking root. inspires us to create even more. strategy with generic African and international We look forward to a time when every country However, these are small steps and there remains content. on the continent is producing world-class, a lot to do to ensure that Africa's true potential is We have found an almost insatiable appetite for authentic, and locally relevant African content realised. While seeing ourselves on screen is authentic local content. The more local for its own audiences, and the diaspora. certainly progress, it is not yet true representation entertainment we serve, the less international As we mark UNESCO Africa Week, fittingly, when it is through the eyes of others. It is content audiences choose to watch! African with the theme "Peace, innovation and unbelievable that our pre-colonial history has still audiences, like others across the world, respond sustainable development in Africa", we barely been told from the African perspective. The enthusiastically to seeing themselves, and their celebrate African excellence in all creative story of Vikings, of Columbus and many western communities represented by homegrown fields. Already, our fascinating, vibrant and historical dramas have been used to educate productions in their language. In the last few powerful continent is reclaiming its rightful audiences whilst so many of our stories remain months we have launched the first Pan African place on the world stage. The future looks untold. lifestyle channel. Honey celebrates how we live, even brighter as we strive to take African There is much work to be done to ensure that how we aspire to live and brings style makers stories to the world. Africa's people see themselves accurately from across the continent to a single destination. Let us all claim that place in the spotlight. Our reflected in the content that they consume. And We now carry programming in 41 languages and people deserve to see themselves reflected in that's where we as consumers, producers, recently added channels in Amharic and Akan. our own content, produced by our own broadcasters, teachers and as a community have A hyperlocal approach to content creation also people. That change is happening right a role to play. often makes business sense, as even beneath our feet. Long may it continue, and Much as Africa is underrepresented in the rest of commoditised American studio content is may the world come to appreciate the true the world, there is still room for more African value of Africa.

5 EUROPE

Enaire, Indra to launch a constellation of satellites into orbit to improve air traffic management

Enaire and Indra have created a public-private up to 9.95 million euros, which may change and European strategic autonomy in the future in initiative project for satellite technology innovation. depending on whether European Next such a key sector as satellite constellations. Both Once the validation phase has taken place, the Generation and Horizon / SESAR funds are the technological partners believe that a project's objective is to create and deploy a network obtained. constellation of this size and global coverage will of more than 200 small satellites at a low altitude to Startical will use small satellites, which are easier generate a “pull effect” in technological and improve air traffic management with a global service to manufacture and maintain than conventional industrial development, providing benefits to the vision over the entire planet. ones, leading to additional benefits. Based on the economy and society as a whole. In this regard, The incorporation of Startical, the name of the New Space concept, the renewal of the entire they believe that Startical constitutes a unique company formed by Enaire and Indra for the constellation every five years on average will opportunity for the aerospace industry, as well as development of this satellite project, has been allow for much faster technology improvement for other industries, and will also have a positive approved by the Council of Ministers and will allow and upgrade cycles than those of a traditional effect on the interaction between universities, Spain to position itself in the sector of satellite constellation, which can take 15 years to be technological progress and industry, promoting provision of global air navigation services. The new renewed. greater collaboration spaces.The project is fully partnership aims to develop and launch satellite aligned with España Puede (Spain Can Do It), platform into orbit, which will extend surveillance the Government's Recovery, Transformation and and aircraft communication coverage, especially to A key technological project, a Resilience Plan, with the Ministry of Transport, vast oceanic regions and remote areas which are driver and generator of jobs Mobility and Urban Agenda's (MITMA in its not covered by ground-based air navigation Enaire and Indra estimate that Startical's success Spanish initials) 2030 Safe, Sustainable and systems. will have a very positive “pull effect” on the Connected Mobility Strategy, and with ENAIRE's Along with its aircraft position monitoring services Spanish technology industry and will generate strategic plan (2025 Flight Plan). (ADS-B), Startical will be the first satellite platform high quality employment and added value. In for air navigation to include a VHF radio fact, the development of this project will result in communication system between the controller and the creation of between 1,440 and 1,550 jobs: Enaire and Indra, in the space the pilot in accordance with aeronautical standards; 240 direct high-skilled workers, between 500 and race this is a differentiating factor compared with similar 550 indirect workers and between 700 and 760 Startical is founded with the joining of Enaire and initiatives. It is, therefore, a pioneering project related jobs. This figure could increase three-fold Indra's experience in the new space race. Enaire worldwide, offering integrated surveillance and in the medium term, rising to 4,500 jobs. is the fourth-largest national air navigation communication. These new services will increase The company created by Enaire and Indra seeks manager in Europe in terms of traffic volume and flight safety, capacity, efficiency and punctuality, to become a leading global provider of air traffic one of the ten largest air traffic controllers with clear benefits for both airlines and passengers. management technology in the satellite segment, worldwide. ENAIRE manages one of the largest In addition, this new technology will be applicable to and a market leader for satellite surveillance and airspaces in Europe: 2,190,000 square other modes of transportation. voice and data communication services. Startical kilometers, and is renowned internationally for The new surveillance and voice and data will offer state-of-the-art, highly differentiated being constantly at the forefront in the use of communication services in low coverage areas will technological solutions in satellite-to-satellite technologies and solutions in its area of activity. also promote the creation of new routes, thereby communication with advanced Artificial In 2019, it managed 2.1 million flights to and from reducing costs and emissions. Specifically, Startical Intelligence and Big Data capabilities. In this four continents (Europe, America, Asia and is expected to reduce global CO2 emissions in the regard, it will provide air navigation managers Africa), transporting 320 million passengers.. atmosphere by at least 13 million tons per year by with better information and communication As for Indra, it is a leading company in the 2030. In addition, this improved reliability of coverage, thus multiplying the efficiency and development of Air Traffic Management systems. information and optimization of air navigation punctuality of flights, whilst also considerably Its technology is present in more than 200 control services will help free up airspace in congested reducing their environmental impact and centers, more than 1,700 landing systems and areas, facilitate the work of air traffic controllers and maintaining the highest levels of safety. more than 400 radars in 176 countries. resulting in more efficient, punctual and even safer The Enaire and Indra joint venture is a Additionally, more than 85% of world passengers flights. demonstration of the technological, operational travel making use of Indra ATM technology at any The Enaire and Indra project will be carried out in and innovative capacity of both companies to time of flight. It has state-of-the-art solutions for two phases. The first one, from 2021 to 2023, will launch a state-of-the-art and innovative country- a u t o m a t e d a i r t r a ff i c m a n a g e m e n t , address the technical developments necessary to based initiative, thanks to which Spain will co- communication, safe navigation and landing ensure the viability of the solution and deal with the lead airspace management, with a vision of systems, surveillance solutions, Information regulatory and market aspects. Once this first phase global service provision in a partnership model. systems and Unmanned Traffic Management is successfully completed, according to the plans of The Enaire and Indra project is a milestone in system. Indra also provides a wide range of both companies, a second phase, to be carried out public-private collaboration and one which will related knowledge and technological capabilities between 2024 and 2027, will implement the contribute to the digital transformation and the necessary to carry out a project of this nature, provision of these services on a global scale, with ecological transition of the Spanish production such as its command of technologies related to the deployment of the complete constellation. model, allowing the country to position itself in the space, systems engineering, communication The maximum investment envisaged for the first space sector applied to air mobility as the flagship technologies, digitalization, Big Data, Artificial phase amounts to 29.2 million euros over the three- of multi-constellations in the New Space era. Intelligence, Analytics, and others. year period, with a contribution from each partner of Likewise, it is an initiative that facilitates national

6 EDITORIAL

Developing virtual reality technology

Virtual reality is widely used today in the gaming, reality simulators. In order to be an effective medical, and entertainment industries, but there are simulation in the medical field it must be The next generation of data services, 5G, can offer a lot of scientific applications of virtual reality as well. accurately represented and have controls more capacity, security and lower latency, and One of such interesting applications is the area of which are reflective of the task which they are with the help of satellites, can spread the always- space exploration and astronaut training. Since completing. The medical field is where most on, ultra-fast connectivity across the globe, virtual reality is very immersive and provides life-like studies and documentation on the positive supplementing terrestrial networks. experiences, it can be an invaluable tool for helping effects of having inexperienced people utilize Antonio Franchi, Head of ESA's Satellite for 5G astronauts prepare for what they may encounter virtual reality to help them learn have occurred. and Future Programmes Acquisition, said: when they set out for a real-life mission. “Satellite services are becoming increasingly vital Virtual reality also has begun to have an impact in all aspects of daily life, and part of the Until recently, the benefits of learners better in historic preservation and landscape digitalisation of industry and society. “5G will understand the space they were being presented architecture. Documenting historic buildings change the way we communicate, work and were there, but the technology itself was always too through digital models is nothing new, so it interact with technology, and space has an bulky, costly, and low resolution to justify stands to reason that if digital models exist invaluable role to play, which is why we are incorporating it into any average firm's workflow. translating those three dimensional models working with industrial partners to develop market Throughout the years there have been many into virtual environments may be a positive step solutions and support space-enabled 5G trials attempts to bring virtual reality into the realms of in allowing a new generation of users to and service demonstrations to help realise the space science but now, more than ever before, experience the buildings of the past. technology's potential and the many applications it virtual reality has become affordable and legible will enable.” enough for scientist to begin to integrate it within Usually associated with video games, this their work-flows. The devices are now reduced from ultra-immersive technology is quickly being According to a new insight, virtual reality, before the massive room sized installations down to an recognised for its real-world potential. Virtual the modern emphasis on personal head mounted easily portable head mounted display along with a reality is a computer-generated environment displays, had generally focused on CAVE-like pc or laptop with the appropriate software. With the that simulates physical presence and virtual environments that required a static space reduction is size the technology also has become interaction, artificially creating sensory dedicated to virtual mock-ups with little to no much more affordable for the average person, experiences like sight, hearing, touch, and portability. This created a situation where virtual making them far more accessible to the industry as a smell. Today, ESA's astronauts use it to help reality was not something you could bring to any result. them prepare for life on the International Space presentation and therefore disinsentivised its use. Virtual reality's documented ability to convey space Station, practicing space walks and operating and immerse the user in a world which may or may payloads in zero-gravity – all while never The new generation of virtual reality systems not represent reality has made it an invaluable tool in leaving the ground. seeks to remedy many of the old problems that many differing fields where the ability to convey In comparison, AR actively works with the hindered virtual reality's acceptance in the space is an important element. Currently the largest user's circumstances; superimposing digital architectural community as a tool for and most publicized use of the newest generation of information directly on real objects, settings representation. The most obvious advancement in virtual reality devices is as a display and control and maps and allowing people to process the the technology is the quality of the simulated device in the video gaming sector. It's popularity digital and physical simultaneously, improving environment which is supported by the hardware. within this sector is attributed mostly to its ability to their ability to absorb it, make decisions and act All new virtual reality platforms being released immerse the user in a space, creating a much closer more quickly. It was used to great effect in the today support high resolution displays, most of connection between the user and the gaming mobile app game Pokémon GO, but is also which are now 1080p or higher, with high refresh environment then they would have experienced creeping into more practical applications, such rates of at least 60HZ meaning that they can simply interacting with that space through the as projecting information onto car windshields provide a seamless virtual environment and have traditional monitor set-up. This is mostly attributed to directly in the driver's field of vision. the ability to display that environment at a high the wide field of view which allows the content of the As our world becomes increasingly digitalised, enough framerate to be displayed at a comfortable experience to encompass the player's entire vision. both technologies' ability to transform how the level for human interaction, which is generally 60 The experience of virtual reality in gaming also user perceives their surroundings is attracting frames per second minimally and 75 frames better allows for users to gauge their own growing interest, and ESA is examining how ideally. Most hardware also has head-tracking relationship to objects within a simulated space, space can help. abilities and gyroscopic tracking which when which allows them to better perceive essential coupled with the support for high resolutions and space defining elements such as depth. Nick Appleyard, Head of ESA's Business high frame-rates does a lot to reduce the effects of Applications department, said: “The VR/AR simulator sickness on users. Being able to accurately recognize spatial market is estimated to reach $150 billion by characteristics of a scene is useful for creating an 2020, with VR representing around $30 billion NASA has big hopes for virtual reality technology. immersive environment connects the players to the and AR $120 billion. Both the consumer and the The agency is developing a suite of virtual reality events happening around them. The other important professional market look promising and environments at Goddard Spaceflight Center in thing that virtual reality gives to the field is a variety of capable of flourishing if offered the right Maryland, that could be used for everything from new methods of interfacing and interacting with a products and services in a technically- geological research to repairing orbiting satellites. virtual environment, such as the use of head supported environment. One displays fiery ejections from the Sun. In tracking to manipulate camera controls or virtual “We think space can add a great deal of value another, scientists can watch magnetic fields body position in space. here, both in terms of helping industry pulse around the earth. A virtual rendering of an capitalise on the business opportunities, and ancient lava tube in Idaho makes scientists feel Since virtual reality's inception medicine has been helping the technology and its positive like they're standing at the bottom of an actual one of the larger fields to make use of it's potential. applications for people develop further. Our cave. Simulation of medical procedures began in virtual Business Application programme is offering NASA volcanologist Brent Garry is hoping that reality fairly quickly and were effective to teach support to companies for business case virtual visits to a rock formation in Idaho can help complex medical procedures to students and assessment and development of space- him plan research trips in real life. That same VR practicing medical professionals. The use of virtual enabled services based on virtual and environment also allows users to measure reality in the medical field allowed practice on augmented reality applications.” Another distances and leave notes in the landscape. procedures without the need for costly model reason these applications are not in You know, it's cheaper to have people go to a lava humans or cadavers, which are often in limited widespread use now is that current 4G tube in VR than to actually fly them out there for supply. This also allows doctors and students to n e t w o r k s l a c k s u ff i c i e n t c a p a c i t y, two weeks," says Grubb. practice as often as they have access to the virtual responsiveness and coverage.

7 APPOINTMENT

Inmarsat appoints two senior the private sector. 5. To delegate in favor of the executive board Marrone was chief of staff of the U.S. members Mr. Ignacio Mataix Entero and Ms. leaders to advance Department of Homeland Security for Cristina Ruiz Ortega, respectively responsible unmanned aerial vehicles former Secretary Jeh Johnson and also for the Transport and Defense and Minsait held a number of senior positions within the divisions, all the delegable powers of the Board, appointing them jointly and severally as Chief (UAV) connectivity offering U.S. Department of Defense, including Executive Officers. special assistant to then-Secretary Robert Gates, and acting assistant secretary of Inmarsat, the world leader in global mobile satellite Maxar Appoints Chris communications, has expanded its fast-growing Defense for Legislative Affairs. division dedicated to connectivity for Unmanned "Christian is a seasoned leader with a Johnson to Lead Space Aerial Vehicles, commonly known as drones, with strong history of national security expertise the addition of two new senior executives. The and bipartisan relationships. His selection Programs appointment of Jon Holmes as Senior Director of showcases the strength of Lockheed UAV Technology and Mark ter Hove as Senior Martin's leadership succession planning," Maxar Technologies today announced that Chris Manager of European Market Development will said Jim Taiclet, chairman, president and Johnson will join the company as Senior Vice drive forward Inmarsat's plan to be the leading CEO of Lockheed Martin. "Robert's President of Space Programs Delivery (SPD), connectivity partner in this burgeoning sector. contributions to our national defense, both effective May 24. Johnson most recently served The number of UAVs flying in airspace is expected in government service and as a Lockheed as president of Boeing Satellite Systems International, Inc., where he was responsible for to increase tenfold from 1.1 million to 10 million by Martin executive, have always been guided [1] strategy, capture, development and 2027 , with a far-reaching impact in various by a commitment to our men and women in aspects of business and society, from emergency manufacturing of Boeing's commercial satellite uniform, pragmatic bipartisanship and business. In that role he led a successful services, disaster relief and surveillance, to cargo upholding essential principles of ethics and delivery, inspection and urban transport. business transformation that reduced balance integrity. We thank him for his service and sheet risk, improved profitability, refined product Jon Holmes will be responsible for creating wish him the best in retirement.” strategy and modernized manufacturing Inmarsat's roadmap for UAV products and services, approaches. Prior to that, Johnson was vice working with customers, partners and internal Indra's board appoints president of Boeing's commercial satellite stakeholders. Jon has more than 30 years of services division and held a number defense and e x p e r i e n c e i n a e r o n a u t i c a l s a t e l l i t e Marc Murtra as non- intelligence-related engineering management communications, most recently serving as Senior executive chairman and and business development roles at the company. Director of Engineering and Programme He has a Master of Business Administration and M a n a g e m e n t a t C o b h a m A e r o s p a c e Ignacio Mataix and a Master of Science in systems architecting and Communications, where he led a 150-strong team engineering from the University of Southern to develop aeronautical satellite communication Cristina Ruiz as CEOs California and a Bachelor of Science in terminal products. Prior to this, Jon spent 16 years Mechanical Engineering from the University of in a variety of engineering roles at Honeywell The Board of Directors of the Company, Kansas. In his new role leading the SPD Aerospace, where he led the development of meeting today, has considered that the proper organization at Maxar, Johnson will oversee terminal products designed to operate with performance of his duties by the Chief design, manufacturing, integration, test and Inmarsat's Global Xpress satellite network. Executive Officer requires that at all times he delivery for the company's portfolio of space has the full confidence of its main shareholder, platforms and space-based robotics systems. He Mark ter Hove will be responsible for evaluating given also his position, as a representative of will lead a team of 1,900 employees at the customer and market opportunities in Europe to the state public sector, the Company's main company's Palo Alto, San Jose and Pasadena reinforce Inmarsat as the leading provider of client and whose decisions have a relevant facilities. Johnson succeeds Paul Estey, who has connectivity products and services in the fast- impact on its business. led SPD on an interim basis since January 29, growing field of UAV BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of The Board also stressed that the permanence 2021. Sight) operations. He has over 25 years of aviation of the other two executive directors, who are experience, including 12 years leading operations already in charge in their respective SpaceLink adds Top Space at British Airways franchise partners GB Airways responsibilities, of the Company's operations, and Astraeus Airlines, before serving as airline as well as the corporate general manager, Industry Execs to Drive network manager at London's Gatwick Airport. In guarantees the continuity of management at Forward the Information his most recent role as Director of Global Air the highest level, executing the 2021-2023 Transport at Cobham Aerospace Communications, Strategic Plan unanimously approved by the Superhighway Mark developed a global go-to-market strategy for Board of Directors last February. the company's portfolio of satcom solutions, helping SpaceLink today announced that it added three For the reasons indicated above and in pursuit airlines, air navigation service providers and top space industry executives to its team. They of the company's best interests, the Board airports become more integrated through bring deep expertise in finance, program unanimously, following a favourable report communications technology. management, and the U.S. government from the Appointments, Remuneration and intelligence community, to drive forward the relay Corporate Governance Committee, has service that provides secure, continuous, high- Lockheed Martin Appoints adopted the following resolutions: capacity communications between LEO 1. To revoke, with effect from today's date, the spacecraft and the ground. The company named Christian Marrone As Senior powers delegated to D. Fernando Abril- Alan Khalili as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Khalili Martorell as Executive Chairman, to dismiss Vice President Of brings experience from mobile satellite services him from his position as Chairman of the Board provider Iridium and he helped found Aireon, a Government Affairs of Directors and not to submit his re-election to company that leveraged hosted payloads to Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced the Meeting, thus entailing the termination of provide a global air traffic surveillance system. Christian Marrone as the senior vice president of the contract for the provision of executive Jim Schwenke joined the team as Vice government affairs, succeeding Robert Rangel, services that binds the parties. who will retire later this year. A proven leader in President, Intelligence Community, bringing experience from BAE Systems, Leidos, Northrop 2. To accept the resignation of Mr. Abril- the public and private sectors, Marrone, a Grumman and the U.S. Air Force. Erik Levine is Martorell as a member of the Board, submitted current Lockheed Martin vice president of now Vice President, Space Segment Program following the above-mentioned revocation, government affairs, has played an active role in Management. He spent much of his previous pursuant to the provisions of article 23.2 f) of many of the most critical issues facing the career at satellite manufacturer Space Systems the regulations of the Board of Directors. company. Prior to joining Lockheed Martin in Loral and more recently he was a senior program 3. To co-opt Mr. Marc Murtra Millar as director, 2019, he successfully served as a senior manager for robotic-assisted surgery company, with the qualification of other external. presidential appointee in both the Bush and Intuitive. 4. To appoint Mr. Marc Murtra Millar as non- Obama administrations in addition to his executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. experience in state and local government and

8 AFRICA

Viasat Swimming in familiar waters

The partnership between Viasat and the Nigerian satellites. A ViaSat-3 satellite, aimed to serve Communications Commission, NCC, which was Africa, as well as Europe and the Middle East, is designed to expand the frontier of broadband planned for launch in 2022. connectivity across Nigeria, has been launched. Thanks to the partnership, Viasat has begun a trial Over the years the Viasat Group has program to connect five unserved Nigerian implemented an international expansion communities covering approximately 15,000 people. strategy, thanks to which it has been able to Viasat plans to provide details on the trials later this reach new countries and consolidate its year. presence in the main continental markets, aggregating local realities with high growth In 2020, Viasat sought the Commission's potential. encouragement and approval to reserve and use the While maintaining its nerve centre on the 28 GHz KA frequency band in the country to provide national territory, the registered office is located cost-effective Internet connectivity and high in Venaria Reale (TO), the Group international throughput satellite connectivity through its profile now includes Nigeria in addition to its incorporated Nigerian subsidiary, Viasat Nigeria. direct presence in 10 countries in Europe (Italy, Portugal, Spain, UK, France, Belgium, Soon after the initial contacts, the company informed Romania, Bulgaria, Poland), 1 in Latin America the Commission of its plan to conduct a Proof of (Chile), 1 in Asia (China) and 60 countries Concept (PoC) test in Abuja in 2020. Thereafter, worldwide through its dealer Viasat also announced its plan to roll out in a community, and subsequently extend the services the IoT world and, in fact, there are no longer any across a state and then proceed to extend its Viasat in Africa national borders. In this sense, our international growth strategy places our Group among the broadband satellite services nationwide by 2022. According to the company’s website, Viasat leading players in Europe and worldwide. In order Group is a network of interconnected to continue to grow, maintaining the current The company said, its trusted product, the Viasat's companies that develop innovative development trends, it is necessary to be GTH satellite services will be targeting homes, technologies with passion and imagination to increasingly competitive, while remaining faithful governments, schools as well as micro, small and make people's lives and companies' work to the original idea: not to replace the technology medium enterprises (MSMEs), among others to easier, more sustainable and safer. For over 45 of the companies acquired with our own, but to expands broadband coverage across Nigeria. years pioneers in the market, we are now one of pool both accumulated experience and technical the leading operators in Europe of satellite expertise, operating in terms of integration and According to the company, its services will be really telematics solutions for Insurtech, Fleet&Waste sharing best practices. In other words, the Viasat beneficial to unserved and underserved areas of Management, Smart Connect, IoT and Big Data Group's strategy can be summarized in this Nigeria. for the intelligent management and protection of sentence: Think global, Act local! people, vehicles and goods. Viasat said it has, over the years, invested over $2.2 The Group was born as an operator specialized billion globally on geostationary satellite services, in the production of Hi-Tech electronic systems, Satellite Fleet with footprint in the Nigerian space towards bridging applied in particular to the automotive sector. One of its earliest satellites, Anik F2, was extant digital divide in the country. Thanks to its ability to respond effectively to the launched by Telesat Canada. At 5,950 kilograms, “We are proud to be working with the NCC and the changing needs of the market, Viasat Group Anik F2 was the heaviest commercial Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy to has managed to establish itself over time as one telecommunications satellite ever launched (at help the Nigerian government achieve their of the leading operators in Italy and Europe in the time). Internet service from Anik F2 offers broadband goals to improve the quality of life of its the provision of satellite and IoT info-telematic speeds of up to 1.5 Mbps, more than 25 times citizens,” said Rick Baldridge, president and CEO, services and solutions for the safety and faster than dial-up. Viasat. “We believe our proven satellite internet protection of people, vehicles and goods. solution, will bring cost-effective internet services to The Group oversees all phases of the value Viasat-1, considered the first of a new generation Nigerian towns where large gaps exist between chain: from research, design and development of super satellites, since its launch, it held the demand and the affordability and availability of to the production and marketing of equipment record for highest capacity communications internet services. We want to thank the NCC for and services that allow for strong vertical satellite for more than 5 years. ViaSat named the granting us the license framework required, and for integration. new service provided by its satellite Viasat. With preserving 28GHz Ka-band spectrum for satellite- 12 Mbps download speeds at the outset, it was at based services that will greatly contribute to breaking Think global, Act local the time the fastest consumer satellite broadband down barriers required to achieve digital and social Despite COVID-19 Pandemic, Viasat's Satellite ever offered. The name reflected the company's inclusion for all of Nigeria.” Services business has been progressing well, goal of exceeding customers' expectations. with key metrics including steady growth of Viasat-3, expected to be launched in 2021, the Impressed by its presentations and the avowed plan ARPU (average revenue per user) and ViaSat-3 satellite will have as much bandwidth as to roll out broadband services across the Nigeria, the revenues showing impressive growth. ARPU is all the rest of the satellites in the world combined. NCC gave the approval and granted Viasat multiple growing on the back of solid retail distribution The first two ViaSat-3 satellites will deliver more licenses to operate within the 28GHz Ka-band network, which accounts for a growing than twice the total combined network capacity of satellite frequency band. The 28GHz Ka-band proportion of high value and high bandwidth t h e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4 0 0 c o m m e r c i a l spectrum has enabled satellite broadband to be the subscriber base. communications satellites in space today. When f a s t e s t g r o w i n g s e g m e n t o f s a t e l l i t e The Viasat Group began a Merger and the third ViaSat-3 satellite is in service, ViaSat will communications, and the leading global broadband Acquisition process since 2014, developing a likely become the world's first global broadband solution to connect the estimated 3.6 billion people in direct presence in Europe in the main countries service provider. In addition to residential service, the world left behind by terrestrial infrastructure. with the highest growth rate in the satellite and the ViaSat-3 trio is slated to deliver game- IoT telematics market (in addition to Italy, Spain, changing boosts to in-flight connectivity services With access to the 28GHz Ka-band spectrum, Viasat Portugal, UK, France, Belgium, Romania, and video streaming for commercial airlines, will be positioned to expand its satellite-based Bulgaria and Poland) and globally in 60 business jets, and high-value government internet connectivity service to more regions and countries worldwide, through the network of our transport. The ViaSat-3 satellites will also bring citizens across Africa—ahead of the launch of resellers and partners. affordable satellite Wi-Fi connectivity to billions of ViaSat-3, its ultra-high capacity global satellite Viasat introduced a great revolution going on in unconnected people in emerging markets. constellation comprised of three communications

9 AFRICA

South Africa service revenue grew 7.0%, as Vodacom Group release Q1 result

In a year unavoidably shaped by the devastating in South Africa, and as a Group we have platform growth and customer adoption of digital impacts of the global health crisis, Vodacom Group invested R62.4 billion into our networks over channels. Through M-Pesa, we now process accelerated the delivery of our Social Contract with the past five years. US$24.5 billion (R366.4 billion) a month in stakeholders to ensure we made meaningful Customers in South Africa have also taken transaction value across our International contributions in markets where we operate. advantage of ConnectU, which provides zero- markets, including Safaricom, up 63.5%. We Vodacom Group has been at the forefront of helping rated access to a wide range of websites, serve 57.7 million financial services customers, governments curb the spread of COVID-19 where including job portals and online learning including Safaricom, generating revenue of R19.3 we operate, having swiftly responded earlier this platforms and discounted offers for poor billion in the year. From January 2021, all our year through strategic partnerships with the likes of communities, as well as the significant data markets, including Safaricom, re-implemented Discovery Health and Microsoft, and a wide range of price cuts implemented on 1 April 2020 and the P2P charging. initiatives including free devices and airtime for recently announced 14% decline in our Our strategic investment in Safaricom comprised healthcare workers, accelerating support to headline monthly data price to R85 per almost 13% of our operating profit in the year. governments via donations of handsets, connectivity Gigabyte as part of our ongoing commitment to Safaricom's local currency results reflected the and medical equipment, and making contactless reduce the cost to communicate. impact of depressed economic activity and free payments more accessible through zero-rated Underpinned by the recovery in our M-Pesa P2P transfers, related to the COVID-19 services and an expanded M-Pesa ecosystem to International portfolio in the second half of the pandemic. Positively, Safaricom's commitment to address social distancing challenges. year and strong growth from our prepaid and its strategic goals, supported strong platform Alongside the Vodafone Foundation, we recently Enterprise segments, Financial Services and growth for M-Pesa and higher connectivity usage. announced a R74 million financial pledge to support other new services in South Africa, the This supported a notable recovery in service the roll-out of cold-chain technology and provide Vodacom Group reported a 5.8% increase in revenue growth through the financial year, with logistics support to ensure the safe delivery of service revenue and an 825 cents per share fourth quarter growth at 6.4%. COVID-19 vaccines to vulnerable and hard-to-reach total ordinary dividend per share. This is Looking forward, while being cognisant that communities in South Africa, DRC, Mozambique, particularly pleasing in a difficult trading disposable income will remain under pressure, we Ghana and Tanzania, says Shameel Joosub, environment and is testament to the rapid are increasingly optimistic about improved growth Vodacom Group CEO. We also made a R13 million manner in which the company and its prospects for our International operations. In donation to Lesotho to assist with securing vaccines employees adapted to the crisis. South Africa, the allocation of temporary spectrum for the Basotho people. We have partnered with In South Africa, service revenue grew by 7.0% has supported network capacity and highlights AUDA - NEPAD to build digital infrastructure to on the back of increased data usage, our highly the urgent need for high demand spectrum to be manage the distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations in successful summer campaign and demand for allocated through ICASA's ITA process. We up to 55 countries, following successful deployments financial services – collectively helping to offset continue to see the assignment of high demand in South Africa, leveraging our mVacciNation numerous initiatives aimed at delivering greater spectrum as instrumental to data pricing. platform. value to customers, including tariff reductions of We remain focused on entrenching Vodacom These latest initiatives are over and above the R2 up to 40% at the beginning of the financial year Group as a leading pan-African technology billion service revenue impact of zero-rating peer-to- and the successful launch of Vodabucks, our company through our investments into financial, peer (P2P) M-Pesa transactions in our International behavioural loyalty programme. digital and lifestyle services as these increasingly markets, a R3 billion service revenue impact of Our International operations reported muted provide opportunities to enhance our relationship lowering data pricing in South Africa and the R176 service revenue growth of 1.6% in the year, with with the 123.7 million customers we serve across million cash and in-kind donations made by the a stronger second half helping offset the our footprint. In particular, we are excited about Vodacom and Vodafone Group Foundations in significant impacts of COVID-19 earlier in the our partnership with Alipay and the imminent response to the pandemic. We are proud to be year. This performance was characterised by launch of our single lifestyle app, VodaPay, in standing shoulder to shoulder with the African Union disruption to our commercial activities as a South Africa. Our super-app will offer services and national governments to provide practical result of the informal structure of the economies ranging from loans and savings, seamless QR support for what is an enormous logistical challenge in which we operate, currency volatility, a n d p e r s o n - t o - p e r s o n p a y m e n t s , t o for resource-limited African countries with significant increased pressure on consumer spend, free entertainment and personalised shopping rural populations. M-Pesa P2P transactions and the impact of experiences, promoting greater financial Given the sudden shifts in customer behaviour service barring in Tanzania due to biometric inclusion. We see this super-app as a precursor to patterns, we invested heavily in the resilience of our registration compliance. M-Pesa's evolution, supporting accelerated networks to cope with significant increases in mobile Zero-rating P2P M-Pesa transactions for the growth across our financial services' businesses data traffic volumes to keep families connected, majority of the financial year was the right thing and assisting us in connecting the next 100 million enable businesses to operate, facilitate online to do for our customers and facilitated African customers so that no one is left behind. learning and assist governments in providing critical economic activity. This initiative introduced the services. We invested R13.3 billion in network M-Pesa ecosystem to a significantly broader infrastructure during the year, including R10.1 billion base and continues to support accelerated

10 AMERICA

Peggy Whitson PhD A visionary woman

Born February 9, 1960, in Mt. Ayr, Iowa. Hometown is has accumulated 665 days in space between Beaconsfield, Iowa. Married to Clarence F. Sams, the three missions, a record for U.S. Ph.D. Dr.Whitson enjoys weightlifting, biking, astronauts. Whitson has also performed a total basketball and water skiing. Graduated from Mt. Ayr of 10 career spacewalks, adding up to 60 hours Community High School, Mt. Ayr, Iowa, in 1978; and 21 minutes. received a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Chemistry From October 2009 to July 2012, Whitson from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1981 and a Doctorate served as Chief of the Astronaut Corps and in Biochemistry from Rice University in 1985. was responsible for the mission preparation From 1981 to 1985, Dr. Whitson conducted her activities and on-orbit support of all graduate work in Biochemistry at Rice University, International Space Station crews and their Houston, Texas, as a Robert A. Welch Predoctoral support personnel. She was also responsible Fellow. Following completion of her graduate work, for organizing the crew interface support for she continued at Rice University as a Robert A. Welch future heavy launch and commercially- Postdoctoral Fellow until October 1986. Following provided transport vehicles. Whitson was both this position, she began her studies at NASA's the first female and first non-military Chief of Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston, Texas, as a the Astronaut Office. National Research Council Resident Research Associate. From April 1988 until September 1989, Spaceflight Experience Whitson served as the Supervisor for the Expedition 5 (June 5 through December 7, Biochemistry Research Group at KRUG 2002). The Expedition 5 crew launched on International, a medical sciences contractor at NASA- June 5, 2002, aboard STS-111 and docked JSC. From 1991 to 1997, Whitson was invited to be an with the International Space Station on June 7, Adjunct 2002. During her six-month stay aboard the Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal space station, Dr. Whitson installed the Mobile Medicine and Department of Human Biological Base System, the S1 truss segment and the P1 Chemistry and Genetics at University of Texas truss segment, using the Space Station biotechnology, physical science and Earth Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas. In 1997, Whitson Remote Manipulator System; performed a four science, welcomed several cargo spacecraft began a position as Adjunct Assistant Professor at hour and 25-minute Orlan spacewalk to install delivering tons of supplies and research Rice University in the Maybee Laboratory for micrometeoroid shielding on the Zvezda experiments, and with her crewmates participated Biochemical and Genetic Engineering. Service Module and activated and checked out in a combined six spacewalks to perform the Microgravity Sciences Glovebox, a facility maintenance and upgrades to the station. Whitson NASA Experience class payload rack. She was named the first conducted four of the six spacewalks, bringing her From 1989 to 1993, Dr. Whitson worked as a NASA Science Officer during her stay, and she career total to ten. With a total of 665 days in Research Biochemist in the Biomedical Operations conducted 21 investigations in human life space, Whitson claimed the U.S. record, placing and Research Branch at NASA's Johnson Space sciences and microgravity sciences, as well as eighth on the all-time space endurance list, at the Center. From 1991 to 1993, she served as Technical commercial payloads. The Expedition 5 crew time of her return to Earth. Monitor of the Biochemistry Research Laboratories in (one American astronaut and two Russian the Biomedical Operations and Research Branch. cosmonauts) returned to Earth aboard STS- Awards/Honors From 1991 to 1992, she was the Payload Element 113 on December 7, 2002. Completing her first Inducted into Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame (2011); Developer for the Bone Cell Research Experiment flight, Dr. Whitson logged 184 days, 22 hours BioHouston Women in Science Award (2011); (E10) aboard SL-J (STS-47) and was a member of the and 14 minutes in space. Houston's 50 Most Influential Women of 2011; U.S.-USSR Joint Working Group in Space Medicine Expedition 16 (October 10 through April 19, Russian Medal of Merit for Space (2011); Texas and Biology. In 1992, she was named the Project 2008). The Expedition 16 crew of Whitson and Women on the Move award recipient (2010); Scientist of the Shuttle-Mir Program (STS-60, STS- Cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko launched on Distinguished Alumni Award, Rice University 63, STS-71, Mir 18, Mir 19) and served in this capacity October 10, 2007, aboard a Soyuz TMA-11 (2010); NASA Space Flight Medal (2002, 2008); until the conclusion of the Phase 1A Program in 1995. spacecraft and docked with the International First Lady of Iowa Award presented by the Iowa From 1993 to 1996, Whitson held the additional Space Station on October 12, 2007. The third High School Girls' Athletic Union (2010); Iowa responsibilities of the Deputy Division Chief of the crew member position for this expedition was Transportation Museum, Hero of Valor (2009); Medical Sciences Division at Johnson Space Center. filled by astronauts rotating in and out via Lion's Club Mount Ayr Elementary Science Lab From 1995 to 1996, she served as Co-Chair of the shuttle flights and included Clay Anderson, dedication, Peggy Whitson Science Center U.S.-Russian Mission Science Working Group. Dan Tani, Leo Eyharts and Garrett Reisman. (2008); NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal In April 1996, she was selected as an Astronaut As commander, (2006); Distinguished Alumni Award, Iowa Candidate and started training in August 1996. Upon Whitson oversaw the first expansion of the Wesleyan College (2002); two patents completing two years of training and evaluation, she station's living and working space in more than approved (1997, 1998); Group Achievement was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office six years. The station and visiting space shuttle Award for Shuttle-Mir Program (1996); American Operations Planning Branch and served as the lead crews added the Harmony connecting node, Astronautical Society Randolph Lovelace II Award for the Crew Test Support Team in Russia from 1998 the European Space Agency's Columbus (1995); NASA Tech Brief Award (1995); NASA to 1999. From November 2003 to March 2005, she laboratory, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Space Act Board Award (1995, 1998); NASA Silver served as Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office. Also in Agency's Kibo logistics pressurized module Snoopy Award (1995); NASA Exceptional Service 2003, she served as commander of the fifth NASA and the Canadian Space Agency's Dextre Medal (1995, 2003, 2006, 2008); NASA Space Act Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) robot. Whitson performed five spacewalks to Award for Patent Application; NASA Certificate of mission. conduct assembly and maintenance tasks Commendation (1994); Selected for Space From March 2005 to November 2005, she served as outside the complex. She and Station Redesign Team (March to June 1993); Chief of the Station Operations Branch, Astronaut Malenchenko undocked from the station and NASA Sustained Superior Performance Award Office. Whitson trained as the backup space station returned to Earth on April 19, 2008, aboard the (1990); Krug International Merit Award (1989); commander for Expedition 14 from November 2005 to Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft. Whitson logged NASA JSC National Research Council Resident September 2006. Whitson also was a member of the 192 days in space. Research Associate (1986 to 1988); Summa Cum 2004 Astronaut Selection Board and chaired the Expedition 50/51/52 (November 17, 2016 Laude from Iowa Wesleyan College (1981); Astronaut Selection Board in 2009. through September 3, 2017). Whitson President's Honor Roll (1978 to 1981); Orange van Whitson completed three long-duration tours of duty launched on November 17, 2016, as part of Calhoun Scholarship (1980); State of Iowa aboard the International Space Station, including two Expedition 50/51/52 and returned safely on Scholar (1979); Academic Excellence Award stints as commander on Expeditions 16 and 51. She Earth on September 3, 2017. She contributed to hundreds of experiments in biology, (1978).

11 BUSINESS

Reasons why Uber failed in China

By Yu Zhen

I still remember the very hot summer when Uber driver was safer and the Uber driver was like a enjoyed the large number of subsidies (Hook, entered the Beijing market back in July 2014. That stranger. 2016). Most of my friends and family, and I, did was the fifth month of Uber conquering the market not really want to change our riding habits. Still, in China. At that time, people in Beijing had been Didi Chuxing, Uber's biggest competitor in the I gradually heard taxi drivers complaining used to the taxi hailing services built by Didi Chinese market launched in 2012, two years about Uber. The reason for this was quite Chuxing and Kuaidi and they greatly changed before Uber came to the market in China. Instead simple. They were talking about workplace people's lives. I was not worried about taking a taxi of targeting private car services, Didi Chuxing first fairness because Uber took away some of their on a dark, raining night or at a place far from the launched a taxi-hailing platform. Apparently, the passengers and salaries. In China, taxi drivers city anymore. Taxis were a common transport strategy was extremely successful, as Didi that belonged to local taxi companies need to vehicle in Beijing, which was different from many Chuxing received a huge welcome and pay the mandatory operation fee and safety other countries, especially the western world. tremendous profits with few social disputes. With insurance monthly. Uber drivers apparently Honestly, it was not very expensive. The initial fee the help of the ride-hailing platform, taxi drivers only paid for a certain percentage of the was 13 CNY (around 2.50 Canadian dollars) can find passengers more easily and more service fee after each ride. Some taxi drivers within 1.86 miles and there was an addition fee of efficiently. Therefore, dozens of ride-hailing even started thinking of joining Uber company 2.3 CNY (around 45 cents) for every 0.62 miles applications were built to fight for the future instead. Yet, we all had a feeling that Uber added to the initial riding fee. More importantly, market, and the apps copied the successful China was operating in the grey zone at that there was no private car hailing services, namely, ecommerce model of Didi Chuxing. Before Uber, time and the government would finally react to and the genuine sharing economy had not really the market in China did not reach to an ideal state legal issues. After one year, unlike Chengdu, started in China. of sharing economy and car-hailing services were Uber in Beijing was still finding ways to Uber firstly introduced the concept of ride sharing still focused on the taxi market. In 2014, Uber compete with local ride-sharing firms. It was to the public in China. It was quite new but very changed the newly established sharing economy not surprising that Didi Chuxing started private exciting. As product designers working at an in China, and it transformed the market from taxi car hailing services. Thanks to Uber, it was Internet company, my colleagues and I were quick sharing to private car sharing. After a year, Didi much easier for the public to adopt the new at catching on to this revolutionary idea. I was very and other local ride hailing firms began to include sharing economy at this time using the familiar excited to download the app but when I needed a private car hailing services. Although Uber China app while Uber China was in a more ride, I hesitated for a second. Finally, I was operated for only two years, the idea of competitive environment. It was not only about successfully tried it for the first time but I was sharing has expanded to bike sharing, home fighting for the market share, but it was also careful and sent the car's information and my sharing, and even portable charger sharing. The about the legal rights. However, Uber did not location to my family. Actually, my first Uber most influential business model of the sharing wait for legalization in China. The government experience was quite fancy and the driver and I economy in China is bike sharing. For instance, of China published the legalization in July 2017 had a nice conversation about Uber, ride sharing, Mobike, is now operating in more than fifty cities in but after a few days, Uber officially announced and new ways to make money. Both of us were China and it has built 100,000 bike stations in that they were exiting the market in China and extremely excited about this new riding choice. Shanghai (Wu & Xue, 2017). It is the second merging with Didi Chuxing (Kirby, 2016). Uber Uber provided a very attractive price and bonus revolution of ride sharing in China and it has China ended that day but the sharing economy for each ride. However, I still used taxi hailing changed the public commuting behaviors, had arrived in China. Although regulation and services more than Uber. The price was one especially for those riding for short distances. policy are stilling under process today, ride consideration and safety was another. Each time I sharing in China became more popular after had an experience with Uber, I observed the In 2014, Didi Chuxing and Kuaidi were competing Uber's leave. driver, sent the information to my family, and kindly to dominate the market. The customers were the reminded the driver to drive safely. I felt the taxi biggest winner in this battle and they frequently In fact, in recent years, even tech firms that

12 BUSINESS

have already succeeded in the Western world like to more than 60 cities with various services that innovative tech companies. One concern is Airbnb are still looking for strategies to tap into the included Uber Black, People's Uber, UberX, etc. whether Uber should follow the local workplace Chinese market. Some have failed after trying for a In October 2015, Uber's CEO Kalanick claimed regulations. It is inevitable that ride-sharing couple of years, like eBay. Uber was the first that 30% of Uber's weekly transaction volume innovation, allowing self-employed drivers to company in China to introduce and practice a was happening in China and at least five cities provide rides to users, has resulted in the genuine model of the sharing economy. Didi Chuxing, took up the top ten busiest cities in the world. imbalance of local workplace. Since Uber and Kuaidi, and other local ride-hailing competitors were Since China is a huge target, Uber carefully other sharing-economy firms are expanding to merely operating taxi hailing services at the operated its strategies during the process of transportation, food, hotels and other industries, beginning instead of private car hailing services localization. Specifically, a number of their the unstoppable trend has pressured a number under the coat of sharing like Uber China. actions in terms of payments, partnership of locals to update laws for both consumers and Specifically, Didi Chuxing launched in September cooperation, and mapping services were workers. 2012, and until May 2015, it pushed into private car strategically carried out. Kalanick, who made hailing in Hangzhou China. On the other side, Uber numerous trips to China in one year, admitted The end foretold China launched in February 2014 and this shows that that Uber China was very different than Following Didi Chuxing and Kuaidi merger in Uber was more than a year ahead of local rivals in everywhere else, referring to Uber's global 2015, boosting its financial muscles, Didi introducing the sharing economy, a completely new expansion. ecommerce model for the public in China. Chuxing could spend more funds on private car hailing instead of taxi hailing. It initially focused Uber could not copy its regular business patterns on taxi hailing services in more than 400 cities in People believe that Uber, the most popular ride- and had to make a change based on China's China, which received more popularity and sharing giant, will never give up on trying to establish transportation and government bureaucracy. customers and it offered the option for new, flexible access to transportation with the Firstly, instead of paying by credit card, Uber passengers to pay by cash, which was at that concept of sharing. Uber had a 30-month history in strategically switched to integrate with Alipay, the time a great convenience for those consumers China, but this does not mean it was a complete most popular mobile banking in China, as a who were accustomed to using cash. failure. Uber China once conquered more than 60 primary method in 2014 and this change catered cities and the weekly volume once reached one third to the consuming habits of Chinese users. To fight for the market share, Uber had to attend of global transactions. Secondly, Uber China also chosed Baidu Map this bloody war with other ride hailing companies, instead of Google Map because of the “great and it showered drivers and riders with bonuses. wall” policy. At the same time, being a partner with Uber China According to Travis Kalanick, Uber was losing Uber, Baidu enabled users to book riding Uber started its adventure in China in February 2014. one billion dollars a year in China for market services on its own apps, which provided 240 Since Uber was not familiar with the social operations and driver subsidies. million monthly active users from Baidu Map and infrastructure, national Internet developments, and Moreover, Uber had to strive for both national 500 million monthly active users from Baidu banking systems, the push was undoubtedly difficult. and regional legal operations. As the first ride- Mobile. Thirdly, the large discount was extremely As the first company practicing the sharing economy sharing company in China, it was illegal for Uber attractive to new customers and drivers. Drivers in China, Uber went through the periods of to operate at first because the government of and riders could get impressive subsidies or introduction, inspiration, development, questioning, China technically banned private cars for riding bonuses which brought about a huge pending, and permission. Uber's arrival broke the commercial driving services. Though, Uber was volume of registration. rules established by the traditional taxi industry at a still facing regional conflicts and obstacles. Uber However, the challenges of localization in China time that local competitors were still developing taxi- was not banned in China. “China has been one of were unprecedented from institutions, rivals, and hailing services. Uber's leave was accompanied by t h e m o s t w e l c o m i n g p l a c e s w e d o the public. One the one hand, Uber China had to the legislation of the ride sharing economy in China business,”based on Kalanick's findings. for the first time. deal with fierce competition with local ride-hailing companies, such as Didi Chuxing and Kuaidi. It is In May 2015, the Guangzhou office was raided well known that Uber succeeds in receiving Without a doubt, Uber's localization created a new by local police because Uber failed to be impressive investments from global giants. Yet, ecommerce pattern. This follows government considered as a qualified service provider by the Didi Chuxing also raised more than 2 billion released of its “Internet Plus” strategy that highly use of private cars without commercial dollars from a number of well-known global encouraged citizens to start their own business with authorities. Apparently, the international investors including Tencent and Alibaba in 2015 the passion to create, and the individual contribution ecommerce company was in a more difficult and 4.5 billion dollars from investors including to the entire national economic development would situation after conquering the markets compared Apple. This gave it sufficient funds for market be understood in the light of “broader to other local ride-sharing firms. macroeconomic goal of creating millions of new jobs” operations. In China, controversial debates about the lack of . For the first time, people in China had a chance to Furthermore, although the government of China public security happen quite often. Compared to share private cars and have part-time salaries. finally granted the legal status to ride-hailing taxi drivers, Uber drivers have less training, Meanwhile, riders spent lower cost but enjoyed services, Uber was facing more limitations. management and license tests, according to easier rides. Before Uber, only taxi drivers who According to the Ministry of Industry and Chinese authorities. In other words, Uber's owned commercial driving licenses had the rights for Information Technology in China, all ride hailing globalization strategy presents a lack of riding operations. Therefore, people were skeptical companies are required to authorize the corporate responsibility. To ensure the safety, on and they did not accept it easily. For Uber drivers, government and relevant ministries to access the official website, Uber claims that it is enjoyment and additional incomes attracted them to data for censorship and monitoring; drivers need transparent to check the driver's information and use the ridesharing app but they sacrificed their time to register with local authorities and meet find real-time location on the map at any time .Yet, for rest; for Uber passengers, they enjoyed the riding standards to get qualified certification; vehicles Uber's fast growth has given rise to a number of convenience and lower riding fees but had to face the can only be used after installing a GPS and serious accusations involving murders and risk of injuries, crimes, or privacy disclosures. security alarm system; companies are required sexual assaults. According to report, although people in China are to pay local taxes and buy the insurance for using mobile applications a lot, the citizens who were riders. Some policies were still under discussion. using Uber China were holding mixed opinions about The second issue is data privacy. This concern has been raised due to Uber's easy access to all the foreign service providers. For instance, the pricing strategies should be drivers' and passengers' information and real- Due to the unique environment and culture in China decided with local governments because in time locations. In addition, several data breaches compared to Western countries, Uber was slow in some cities, taxi companies are owned by the have occurred in the past few years. Uber implementing its strategies in China. It first local government. This was a dilemma for Uber. announced in February 2015 that nearly 50,000 introduced the luxury car service in three big cities: In August 2016, after 30 months of aggressive drivers' names and license numbers were Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen At that time, pushing into China, Uber decided to sell it hacked from the Uber database. There was local taxi-hailing firms, such as Didi Chuxing and operations in China to Didi Chuxing, its largest another breach happened in October 2016 and Kuaidi, were fighting hard for the taxi-services market competitor in China, for 35 billion dollars. share. Uber continuously launched People's Uber in Uber lost about 57 million customers' and drivers' data due to a systematic. Beijing after six months, “bringing promising At the time of the merger, Uber was in 60 cities According to Uber's official announcement, innovations fit for a city with Beijing's scale”, said the with 40 million rides a week, while Didi Chuxing 815,000 Canadian riders and drivers were U.S. company. was in 400 cities with 14 million rides per day and affected by the exposure of account information 11 million was from private car hailing. This battle including names, email addresses, and phone For this new rebranding, Uber claimed that People's was costly but the result seemed far from what numbers Thirdly, the ongoing battles on fairness Uber was providing a non-profit service and Uber Uber expected. would not take any service fare. In two years, Uber between traditional transportation and new China had unimaginable achievements, expanding technological modes will not stop. Local institutes and governments put great pressure on such 13 AFRICA

An Engineer's Arctic Tale

In December 2019, before anyone ever heard of COVID-19 and Zoom was something only found on your camera, Pierre Retief was on a ship heading for Antarctica, to fulfil a lifelong dream. He was appointed as a Radar Engineer for the South African National Space Agency, part of the nine member team, SANAE 59. Pierre describes this life changing experience in this article.

Just getting to the base, SANAEIV, is an experience in itself. It starts with a sea voyage to Antarctica on the amazing SA Agulhas II, where the final destination feels like the end of the world, the ice shelf. This was followed by a spectacular helicopter flight over the ice, before landing on the base's helideck. Arriving at SANAEIV was an incredible and surreal experience. Having dreamt about this moment for years, it did not disappoint. A quick tour of the base and it was time to get to work. Maintenance of the base and the transition from the old team to the new happens during the short summer window from December to February. This period is called “Take Over” and it was filled with great memories. Learning everything I needed to know to keep my systems going, meeting loads of interesting people, visiting the German and Norwegian bases, driving a snowmobile, driving a bulldozer, seeing Emperor penguins are just some of the fond memories from Take Over.

Working in this environment forces you to acquire new skills, which is one of the true highlights for me. Everything from learning how to make home-made circuit boards, tying alpine butterfly knots and soldering components so small you need a magnifying glass just to see them! Life can be a constant struggle at times, since nothing ever goes to plan, everything takes longer than anticipated and you hardly ever succeed the first time around.

Simple things will test you, like trying to make a cup of tea, only to find the water in the kettle frozen solid. Or going outside and finding your snowmobile work on the corner of the roof! containers and bulldozers. Seeing other humans completely buried. At times, you might feel like Working for the South African National Space again, eating fresh fruit and vegetables, and being giving up, but it's not long before you're faced with a Agency, as the Radar Engineer, my main in awe of the bright blue ocean, were the standout challenge and emerge victorious. responsibility was to look after the Super Dual memories that day. Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN). Arriving back home was definitely a shock. Port Antarctica is unlike any other place I have ever SuperDARN is a global network of High Frequency Health could not clear the ship as those of us who experienced. It's the coldest, driest, windiest place radars, used to measure the conditions of the over-wintered, were never tested for COVID-19 on on Earth. It never rains, winter is dark for months and Ionosphere. departure (COVID-19 did not exist when we left in summer the sun never sets. There are no ants to Each radar consists of 16 antennas and 16 civilization). After being tested and testing negative, find a sugary substance left overnight, no mosquitos transceiver boxes. Both the boxes and antennas the ship could finally be cleared. Stepping off the to bug you, no flies (not even at a fish braai) and no require regular maintenance and repairs. To repair ship, the reality I have only read about was thrusted viruses lurking around! After a few months on base, an antenna or stay rope, a 16m mast needs to be upon me. Everyone was wearing a mask, people life does achieve some normalcy, with chores like climbed. There are also some other instruments I were tapping elbows and foot dispensable hand cleaning and cooking forming part of the schedule. was responsible for such as a Neutron Monitor, a sanitizers were found everywhere. My wife has Cooking can have its own challenges, like seismographic instrument and various GNSS been a huge help in getting me up to speed with the scratching in a tote bin looking for the least rotten (Global Navigation Satellite System) instruments. new normal. potato, or salvaging the last few good onions. Like A solid understanding of Linux and programming is anything in life, any job gets a whole lot better with also essential. The trip to and from SANAE, the life on base, the good company! work challenges and the return to a different world, The comforts of base will let you forget where you After a full year on the ice, it was time to start the are all experiences I will be with me for the rest of are at times, with internet, underfloor heating a handing over process. To meet the ship, myself my life. A truly strange, tough and magical games room and a sauna, but you are quickly and three other team members crossed the ice experience. My utmost gratitude to SANSA for reminded when you open the door, or you have to with two Challengers, towing numerous sleds with giving me this opportunity of a lifetime

14 EUROPE

Jupiter probe ready for testing

Jupiter is the fifth planet from our Sun and is, by is still unclear if, deeper down, Jupiter has a rooted to the interior.Jupiter has the far, the largest planet in the solar system, more central core of solid material or if it may be a shortest day in the solar system. One day than twice as massive as all the other planets thick, super-hot and dense soup. It could be on Jupiter takes only about 10 hours (the combined. Jupiter's stripes and swirls are actually up to 90,032 degrees Fahrenheit (50,000 time it takes for Jupiter to rotate or spin cold, windy clouds of ammonia and water, floating degrees Celsius) down there, made mostly around once), and Jupiter makes a in an atmosphere of hydrogen and helium. of iron and silicate minerals (similar to complete orbit around the Sun (a year in Jupiter's iconic Great Red Spot is a giant storm quartz). Jovian time) in about 12 Earth years bigger than Earth that has raged for hundreds of roughly 4,333 Earth days. Its equator is years. Jupiter is surrounded by dozens of moons. Jupiter's appearance is a tapestry of colorful tilted with respect to its orbital path around Jupiter also has several rings, but unlike the cloud bands and spots. The gas planet likely the Sun by just 3 degrees. This means famous rings of Saturn, Jupiter's rings are very has three distinct cloud layers in its "skies" Jupiter spins nearly upright and does not faint and made of dust, not ice. that, taken together, span about 44 miles have seasons as extreme as other planets approximately 71 kilometers. The top cloud do. With a radius of 43,440.7 miles (69,911 is probably made of ammonia ice, while the kilometers), Jupiter is 11 times wider than Earth. If middle layer is likely made of ammonium Jupiter took shape when the rest of the Earth were the size of a nickel, Jupiter would be hydrosulfide crystals. The innermost layer solar system formed about 4.5 billion years about as big as a basketball. From an average may be made of water ice and vapor. ago, when gravity pulled swirling gas and distance of 484 million miles (778 million The vivid colors you see in thick bands dust in to become this gas giant. Jupiter kilometers), Jupiter is 5.2 astronomical units across Jupiter may be plumes of sulfur and took most of the mass left over after the away from the Sun. One astronomical unit phosphorus-containing gases rising from formation of the Sun, ending up with more (abbreviated as AU), is the distance from the Sun the planet's warmer interior. Jupiter's fast than twice the combined material of the to Earth. From this distance, it takes Sunlight 43 rotation spinning once every 10 hours other bodies in the solar system. In fact, minutes to travel from the Sun to Jupiter. Planets creates strong jet streams, separating its are shown in the correct order of distance from Jupiter has the same ingredients as a star, clouds into dark belts and bright zones but it did not grow massive enough to the Sun and with the correct relative orbital across long stretches.With no solid surface ignite. About 4 billion years ago, Jupiter distances. to slow them down, settled into its current position in the outer solar system, where it is the fifth planet The composition of Jupiter is similar to that of the Jupiter's spots can persist for many years. from the Sun. Sun mostly hydrogen and helium. Deep in the Stormy Jupiter is swept by over a dozen atmosphere, pressure and temperature increase, prevailing winds, some reaching up to 335 With four large moons and many smaller compressing the hydrogen gas into a liquid. This miles per hour (539 kilometers per hour) at moons, Jupiter forms a kind of miniature gives Jupiter the largest ocean in the solar the equator. The Great Red Spot, a swirling solar system. Jupiter has 53 confirmed system—an ocean made of hydrogen instead of oval of clouds twice as wide as Earth, has moons and 26 provisional moons awaiting water. Scientists think that, at depths perhaps been observed on the giant planet for more confirmation of discovery. Moons are halfway to the planet's center, the pressure than 300 years. More recently, three smaller named after they are confirmed. becomes so great that electrons are squeezed off ovals merged to form the Little Red Spot, Jupiter's four largest moons—Io, Europa, the hydrogen atoms, making the liquid electrically about half the size of its larger cousin. Ganymede and Callisto—were first conducting like metal. Jupiter's fast rotation is Scientists do not yet know if these ovals and observed by the astronomer Galileo Galilei thought to drive electrical currents in this region, planet-circling bands are shallow or deeply in 1610 using an early version of the generating the planet's powerful magnetic field. It 15 EUROPE

telescope. These four moons are known today as the Galilean satellites, and they're some of the most fascinating destinations in our solar system. Io is the most volcanically active body in the solar system. Ganymede is the largest moon in the solar system even bigger than the planet Mercury. Callisto's very few small craters indicate a small degree of current surface activity. A liquid-water ocean with the ingredients for life may lie beneath the frozen crust of Europa, making it a tempting place to explore.

Discovered in 1979 by NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft, Jupiter's rings were a surprise, as they are composed of small, dark particles and are difficult to see except when backlit by the Sun. Data from the Galileo spacecraft indicate that Jupiter's ring system may be formed by dust kicked up as interplanetary meteoroids smash into the giant planet's small innermost moons. As a gas giant, Jupiter doesn't have a true surface. The planet is mostly swirling gases and liquids. While a spacecraft would have nowhere to land on Jupiter, it wouldn't be able to fly through unscathed either. The extreme 400-newton main engine that will be used for Launched in 2022 pressures and temperatures deep inside the Jupiter orbit insertion, and a further 20 small Juice will now be tested for several weeks, but planet crush, melt and vaporize spacecraft thrusters. already in July, the space probe's journey here trying to fly into the planet. During a night ride a special transporter carried on Earth will continue. Juice is then sent from the the heavy and oversized load safely to the Netherlands to Toulouse in France for the very Jupiter probe: Juice integration centre in Friedrichshafen. Airbus latest tests. JUICE, the JUpiter ICy moons Explorer has now set up a special two shift working From there, the trip goes to the European space mission, has reached its next milestone: On pattern for up to 60 engineers to ensure on time base at Kourou in French Gyuana in Central its Earthly journey via different Airbus sites in delivery - even in Corona influenced times. America. Here, Juice is put on a European Europe the spacecraft has arrived at Airbus' launch vehicle of the type Ariane 5, to be satellite integration centre in Friedrichshafen In parallel the full size engineering model of launched in 2022. Juice has ten instruments on (Germany) for final integration. Until the end JUICE has been integrated and is at Airbus' board from several of ESA's member countries, of 2020 it will be kitted out with its final satellite integration centre in Toulouse for full including Sweden. components including harness, power functional software testing, prior to installation Norwegian electronics from Kongsberg e l e c t r o n i c s , o n b o a r d c o m p u t e r, on the flight model in Friedrichshafen. Defense and Aerospace allow Juice to rotate its communication systems, navigation sensors, JUICE will spend more than three years in the solar panels and hold them against the sun thermal hardware and its scientific Jupiter system, collecting data to provide when needed. instruments. Next stop: Noordwijk, The answers on the conditions for planet formation These instruments will explore Jupiter and the Netherlands, the home of the European and the emergence of life. It will spend nine moons Ganymede, Europa and Callisto. Both Space Agency´s space test centre ESTEC, months orbiting the icy moon Ganymede their outer and surface, inner structure, where the probe has to undergo its thermal analysing its nature and evolution, and its c h e m i c a l c o m p o s i t i o n , a t m o s p h e r e , vaccum environmental test campaign to potential habitability. ionosphere, magnetic field and more will be prove it is ready for its journey via Venus and investigated further. Mars to Jupiter and its mission in the Jovian Tested in huge chambers system. Juice has now been completed by the main Norwegian technology on board The 5.2 tonne JUICE spacecraft will set off in contractor Airbus in Friedsichshafen in Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace and May 2022 on its near 600 million-kilometre- Germany, and has been sent to ESA's technical delivered similar technology to several of ESA's long journey to Jupiter with a planned arrival center ESTEC in the Netherlands. Here, Juice space probes. Both on the long journey through date of October 2029. The spacecraft will will go through the thorough testing that all the solar system of Jupiter, and at Jupiter and its carry 10 state-of-the-art scientific space probes and satellites must pass before moons, Juice will measure the high-energy i n s t r u m e n t s , i n c l u d i n g c a m e r a s , they can be launched. Because in the room radiation around it. This is done by the spectrometers, an ice-penetrating radar, an there are, among other things, extreme instrument RADEM, which has a radiation altimeter, radio-science experiment, and temperature differences between light and detector from the Norwegian company IDEAS. sensors to monitor the magnetic fields and hadow. Therefore, space probes and satellites RADEM is one of the few instruments that will be charged particles in the Jovian system. JUICE must be tested in vacuum chambers with huge in use during the entire long trip to Jupiter. will complete a unique tour of the Jupiter lamps that mimic the strong light and heat from system that will include in-depth studies of the sun. Jupiter's environment is probably not conducive three potentially ocean-bearing moons, When the space probes are in the shade, it gets to life as we know it. The temperatures, Ganymede, Europa and Callisto. icy cold. This must also be tested so that the pressures and materials that characterize this electronics on board do not fail due to materials planet are most likely too extreme and volatile Over the last few months the JUICE structure, that expand and shrink with temperature. for organisms to adapt to. While planet Jupiter is built and assembled by Airbus in Madrid, has During launch, there is a lot of vibration and an unlikely place for living things to take hold, the been completed with its chemical propulsion ound. Therefore, space probes and satellites same is not true of some of its many moons. s y s t e m a t A r i a n e G r o u p ' s s i t e i n are being tested on giant platforms that shake Europa is one of the likeliest places to find life Lampoldshausen (Germany) to form the them to mimic the launch. In space, there is also elsewhere in our solar system. There is spacecraft body. ArianeGroup's Orbital cosmic radiation from both the sun and sources evidence of a vast ocean just beneath its icy Propulsion teams have developed, produced far out in the universe. At Jupiter, there is also a crust, where life could possibly be supported. and integrated the propulsion system, which lot of radiation from the planet's strong includes two titanium propellant tanks and the magnetic field and large radiation belts. 16 EUROPE

Beyond the ice of Jupiter’s moons

ESA's spacecraft JUICE will be launched from know the exact positions of the spacecraft and the Kourou in French Guiana next year, after which it will The Dutch experiment is called PRIDE, which is moon itself at all times. That is where PRIDE spend a decade travelling through our solar system short for “Planetary Radio Interferometry and comes in. The PRIDE instrument is also used in on its way to Jupiter. Upon arrival, it will begin Doppler Experiment.” Telescopes that are the research of the thickness of the ice on Jupiter's studying the moons of Europa, Callisto and normally used to study distant galaxies and other moon Europa. Lastly, PRIDE allows scientists to Ganymede using ten different scientific instruments astronomical sources of radio waves are now observe how the moon Ganymede changes over and one experiment: the Dutch PRIDE. The Dutch being used to monitor JUICE. The correlators of time, e.g. by looking for tidal movements in its icy National Space Organisation has supported the JIVE play a key role in this process. These surface. Vermeersen: “We use PRIDE to scientific applications of PRIDE for years as part of supercomputers combine data from telescopes determine exactly when JUICE passes over the its User Support programme. NSO and the Dutch located all over the planet into a single usable same point on Ganymede's surface again. This Research Council (NWO) also fund the work of signal. “Planetary explorers usually only allows us to compare measurement data from Leonid Gurvits, who works as a guest professor at communicate with a single Earth-based receiver different flyovers and look for any changes that Delft University of Technology. at a time,” Vermeersen says. “What we are doing may have occurred.” now is look at the satellite using multiple In July of 2004, the American planetary explorer telescopes that are located very far apart. In Great advances Cassini reaches the planet Saturn. It is carrying the astronomical terms, this technique is known as In addition to his work at Delft University of European spacecraft Huygens on its back, which is 'very long baseline interferometry.' The resulting Technology, Vermeersen also spends one day a scheduled to land on Titan, one of the moons of effect is similar to what happens when you look at week at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Saturn, in January of 2005. However, there is a an object with two eyes: suddenly, you can see Research (NIOZ). NIOZ possesses a wealth of problem with the communication between the two very clearly even at a great distance. This lets you information about tidal ocean currents on Earth. spacecraft. Half of the scientific observations being determine an object's position with far greater “With some minor modifications, NIOZ's models conducted appear to be lost. Researcher Leonid accuracy.” The network of radio telescopes on and research methods can also be used on other Gurvits of the Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC (JIVE) in Earth will determine JUICE's position down to a planets and moons in our solar system. By Dwingeloo comes up with a workaround. He few dozen metres - all while the craft is flying working together, we can quickly achieve great monitors Huygens' landing using eighteen radio around at an average distance of nearly 800 advances in planetary science.” Leaps forward. telescopes spread across the entire planet. His million kilometres from Earth. “We are enriching Big questions, important answers. That is why solution works. “What started as a technical issue the data generated by ten scientific instruments on Vermeersen has spent the last fifteen years of his ended up having a wonderful outcome,” board with accurate location determination. That life working on the scientific experiment PRIDE Vermeersen explains. “Radio telescopes on Earth paves the way for new discoveries. and why he will continue to do so for the next have provided us with data about the wind in Titan's fifteen years as well: “In the past, we would use atmosphere.” The same trick was used again later telescopes to look at the heavens in search of during ESA's Venus Express and Mars Express Ground-breaking science answers. Now, we can also use a different missions. Vermeersen is now working together with An example: JUICE wants to determine what is approach: we have engineers build spacecraft Gurvits, scientific leader of PRIDE, on a way to located beneath the ice of Jupiter's moons. Is it and send those into the void. We know for a fact utilise this technique during the JUICE mission. This water? Solid ground? A mantle? To find out, you that there is water on the icy moons of Jupiter and I time, it is not being done to “save” scientific must first know more about the moon's believe we will eventually discover primitive observations, but rather to generate even more and gravitational field. That gravitational field, in turn, lifeforms there as well.” better scientific results with the instruments on is studied by looking at small deviations in JUICE's board. orbit around the moon. To do that, you have to

17 SPECIAL REPORT

The rise of virtual reality in space education

Source: CNN

Virtual Reality, like many technologies, has it's simulate a cockpit of a fighter jet for the user in stage the technology was still far too new and roots in science fiction writing in the short story order to better train air force pilots. Virtual reality unrefined to have any real impact outside of the ”Pygmalion's Spectacles” by Stanley G. and augmented reality, which is another form of virtual reality research sphere. Weinbaum in 1935, which described a goggle- virtual reality that projects virtual elements into based method for experiencing simulated real space instead of creating a purely digital Through the early years, virtual reality systems environments that rather closely mirrors the environment, as we know it today was were mainly developed as simulation tools that current perspective on the technology but also pioneered in the work of Ivan Sutherland and are developed to aid in the learning of specific incorporated things such as smell and touch to Bob Sproull who are credited with creating the tasks such as in the case of Furness's flight immerse the user. As a technology, virtual reality first method of representing space in virtual simulators. The trend of virtual learning devices first made an appearance in the early 1960's with reality through the use of a head mounted continued into the 1980's and saw the two notable visionaries in the field, Morton Heilig display device as well as developing a gesture development of simulators in the medical field and Douglas Engelbart who were both working at based system of manipulating the environment designed to aid surgeons in procedures as well roughly the same time to develop very distinct in the form of as virtual interfaces that allowed users to versions of virtual reality. Heilig's focus was on remotely manipulate machines through the use virtual reality as entertainment. He developed a “The Sword of Domocles”, which was a wand of virtual reality technology. In the late 1980's device which was called a Sensorama, a new that allowed the user to interact with the space and early 1990's virtual reality again started to method of viewing films which allowed the user to without having to visualize their own body. The make way into the public's attention when it view a stereoscopic three-dimensional film in an inability to visualize the body while wearing a began its return to the sphere of entertainment immersive pod that would also provide haptic head mounted display makes using common in the video gaming sphere. The earliest feedback, which is any sort of physical force input tools difficult for most users to manipulate. implementations of virtual reality in the field of feedback, to the user by tilting and manipulating Motion and gesture based controllers solve this video gaming were basic head mounted the seat. Sensorama also had the ability to trigger issue by allowing physical movement, which the systems attached to arcade cabinets. They smells at predetermined points within a film. user can perform without sight, to control the allowed the user to visualize the environment Engelbart took a more technologically exploratory space. Sutherland and Sproull's virtual reality but they manipulated the game using standard route and developed the first virtual reality display device was a more advanced version of the video game control methods. that was designed to be used in conjunction with a head mounted display, which allowed the user computer as a method for displaying information to visualize low detail wire-frame spaces and With the ongoing pandemic putting restrictions and interfacing with the computer. Neither of manipulate those spaces through the control on travel, you can use virtual reality to visit any these technologies developed into wide use but wand. There were still significant drawbacks to destination in any part of the world. This is one both went on to shape future innovation in the the technology at this stage, the head mounted of the most creative uses of virtual reality since field. In the mid to late 1960's a new form of virtual unit was extremely heavy which forced the it allows you to feel as if you are in any other reality was introduced by Thomas Furness who researchers to suspend the unit from the ceiling location in the world. One of the most beneficial developed a virtual reality flight simulator for the in order for it to be worn and the limited amount virtual reality uses its immersive nature. For United States Air Force. It was designed to of data that could be represented kept it from instance, with a pair of VR goggles and be being a useful tool outside of the lab. At this 18

SPECIAL REPORT

teleported to thousands of miles from their locations and does not cost a fortune. Using Google Cardboard along with the Google Arts and Culture app it is possible to enjoy all of these sites. A lot of people always dreamed of becoming an astronaut, but only a select few can actually become astronauts. Thanks to virtual reality, space enthusiasts can now have the experience of walking on the moon or piloting a space shuttle. NASA has created a simulation that allows the public to experience virtual reality space and recreate their own mission to Mars. Planetariums can also use a space exploration virtual reality app along with a headset to give virtual tours of other planets. 8 The US Kennedy Space Center is already using with OnSight, which is a virtual reconstruction of the Martian surface. There are two purposes to this technology. One of them is to give visitors a life-like tour of Mars and remotely guide the Curiosity Mars rover on its missions. Such virtual reality space travel can help increase public engagement, and there are many educational uses and benefits as well. For example, virtual reality development allows companies to create life-like experiences for students learning about space. Instead of simply reading about the solar system, VR can actually allow them to see what the surface of a planet actually looks like and what it would be like to land on that planet.

Usually associated with video games, this ultra- the help of satellites, can spread the always-on, advanced technologies to precisely track the immersive technology is quickly being recognised for ultra-fast connectivity across the globe, surgeon's movements, a realistic and real-time its real-world potential. Virtual reality is a computer- supplementing terrestrial networks. Virtual reality environment display for the generated environment that simulates physical Antonio Franchi, Head of ESA's Satellite for 5G physician, and telecommunications to transmit presence and interaction, artificially creating sensory and Future Programmes Acquisition, said: the data between the two locations. Virtual experiences like sight, hearing, touch, and smell. “Satellite services are becoming increasingly reality can even make the patient's veins' easier Today, ESA's astronauts use it to help them prepare vital in all aspects of daily life, and part of the to locate, by converting the circulatory system's for life on the International Space Station, practicing digitalisation of industry and society. “5G will heat signature into an image and space walks and operating payloads in zero-gravity change the way we communicate, work and superimposing it onto the skin. – all while never leaving the ground. interact with technology, and space has an In comparison, AR actively works with the user's invaluable role to play, which is why we are circumstances; superimposing digital information working with industrial partners to develop Virtual reality's in directly on real objects, settings and maps and market solutions and support space-enabled professional fields allowing people to process the digital and physical 5G trials and service demonstrations to help What exactly is virtual reality? Simply put, it's simultaneously, improving their ability to absorb it, realise the technology's potential and the many immersive first person software that make decisions and act more quickly. It was used to applications it will enable.” transports the user to a whole other space. great effect in the mobile app game Pokémon GO, For example, the ESA-supported CapeOutdoor They can operate within that space as if in but is also creeping into more practical applications, 3D, a 3D virtual reality mobile app. It overlays reality, but the difference is that space is such as projecting information onto car windshields Sentinel-2 maps of South Africa with both actually digital. According to a Goldman directly in the driver's field of vision. location-tracked recreational information for Sachs report, published last January stated As our world becomes increasingly digitalised, both tourists, like hiking trails and weather technologies' ability to transform how the user information, and fire risk spatial data for wildlife there could be a: a $700 million (£550 perceives their surroundings is attracting growing park management. million), 15 million-user market in schools interest, and ESA is examining how space can help. Both are important features for the popular but and universities by 2025. Nick Appleyard, Head of ESA's Business wildfire-plagued Western Capetown, which can On April 5th, 2016, Taiwanese company HTC Applications department, said: “The VR/AR market have limited terrestrial network coverage. The together with Valve Corporation released a is estimated to reach $150 billion by 2020, with VR app circumvents this, showing the very latest Virtual Reality device, HTC Vive. The HTC representing around $30 billion and AR $120 billion. satellite-generated information on top of a 3D, Vive includes a headset, two track pad Both the consumer and the professional market look HD and realistic representation of the controllers and two stationary reference promising and capable of flourishing if offered the landscape, regardless of when or where it is unites. In order to provide customers a high right products and services in a technically- accessed. Another ESA co-funded project, quality of immersive Virtual Reality supported environment. Wildwego, takes a similar approach, with the experience, HTC Vive has strived to be “We think space can add a great deal of value here, purpose of providing visitors to national parks consummate from aspects of hardware and both in terms of helping industry capitalise on the with a more engaging experience. It intends to software. However, the high cost associated business opportunities, and helping the technology encourage a greater appreciation for nature with the both the software needed to build and its positive applications for people develop conservation with an AR-based game that virtual environments and the computing further. Our Business Application programme is offers information about the flora and fauna offering support to companies for business case surrounding the player as they travel through power needed to run the platform, plus any assessment and development of space-enabled the park, with the option to share the experience external necessary equipment needed to run services based on virtual and augmented reality with friends. the immersive environment, made the applications.” Another reason these applications are prospect of incorporation immediately not in widespread use now is that current 4G The healthcare applications of this technology unfeasible. networks lack sufficient capacity, responsiveness also look like they can be greatly enhanced by and coverage. space. Telesurgery fuses both telemedicine and Virtual Reality learning can be much more The next generation of data services, 5G, can offer AR technologies, enabling surgeons to operate powerful than lectures. A study from the more capacity, security and lower latency, and with on patients remotely. It uses a combination of University of Maryland showed that VR

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learning can improve recall by as much as game developer and animator, thinks of large capital investment to implement. 8.8% over traditional learning. A 2020 PwC showcasing African Mythology and Legends In 2016, Judith Okonkwo, founder of Imisi 3D report found that VR learners were four using Virtual reality. creation lab, organised the first Virtual times faster to train than traditional Reality hackathon in Nigeria. The event, classroom methods. But the bigger win is In August 2015, Dotse created a short 360- which was held in Lagos, birthed ideas on that learners were 3.75 times more degree film called Pandora with a virtual the application of VR in education, medicine, emotionally connected to the content than reality studio he founded in Accra called and tourism. Eventual winners of the classroom learners. NubianVR. The project was intended to competition, Team LeVRn, created a haptic promote Ghana as a place where feedback app that teaches users how to Nancy Campbell Academy, a not-for-profit technology was created as well as code using hand gestures. And the team private boarding school in Ontario, consumed. ended up with $5,000 in seed investment. Canada, has announced the launch of a Pandora also serves as a metaphor for virtual reality experience secondary virtual reality in Accra. Based on the Greek Virtual reality's ability to convey space and education programme. myth with the same name, the film asks immerse the user in a world which may or International students will have the choice people to think critically about what the may not represent reality has made it an of physical courses on campus in Stratford, power of virtual reality in Africa could be, and invaluable tool in many differing fields where Ontario, where virtual reality technology what responsibilities the creators of it have. the ability to convey space is an important will be used to enhance various learning For Dotse, virtual reality doesn't have to be element. Currently the largest and most experiences, or enrolling into a virtual restricted to a computer generated publicized use of the newest generation of reality replication of the Nancy Campbell experience. It can be any type of immersive, virtual reality devices is as a display and Academy, an option they believe will be imagined world. His first proper virtual reality control device in the video gaming sector. It's unique in the secondary sector. experience, he says, came through the popularity within this sector is attributed The school is currently testing a beta pages of an absorbing book. mostly to its ability to immerse the user in a version of the virtual reality system, with space, creating a much closer connection students learning remotely with Oculus Virtual reality 360 stories is Nigeria's pioneer between the user and the gaming Quest headsets while the campus remains virtual reality film studio. The company got environment then they would have closed due to Covid-19 restrictions. The global recognition with their virtual reality experienced simply interacting with that virtual reality environment is planned to be documentary 'Daughters of Chibok,' after its space through the traditional monitor set-up. fully operational by June. feature at the 2019 Venice International Film l Festival. At the festival, the film won the According to report, virtual/augmented Virtual reality is occupying zenith in Africa. award of "The Best virtual reality story," reality (VR/AR) earned its first billion dollars Though the development of immersive making VR360 Stories the first African in 2016, with about $700 million in hardware environments is still new, but the company to win the award. sales, and the remainder from content. The continent's contemporary creatives have estimated sales of VR headsets amount to explored the opportunities in virtual reality. Also, two of the most popular gaming about 2.5 million units and 10 million game Senegalese fashion designer Selly Raby engines used to build virtual environments copies. In addition, Goldman Sachs predicts Kane has debriefed about making a film are now free to use for anyone wanting to that AR and VR can easily earn about 80 which expresses the universe in a different experiment. This gives educators access to billion dollars till 2025. Today, apart from way. Andrew Kaggia, a Nairobi- based a new toolset that previously required a Facebook and Oculus, most of global giants

20 SPECIAL REPORT

disoriented during the use of virtual reality. such as Samsung, HTC, Sony, Microsoft, of having inexperienced people utilize virtual Google, and LG have introduced commercial reality to help them learn have occurred. Virtual reality in space AR or VR solutions. This increase in the Virtual reality's effects on the human brain are well documented and create a clear picture about how education. number of VR devices involves a growing virtual reality can affect the cognitive processes of demand for applications created on these those who experience it. Exposing someone to a platforms. Many experts are convinced that In Norway, Andøya Space has continued to a virtual environment can have a significant impact virtual space mission for students. It offers two VR/AR has the potential to be one of the most on their cognitive processes, things from pain groundbreaking technologies of the next decade online “space missions” for students in lower and response to how users perceive time have all upper secondary school in a project called and forecast that it may be a new turning point for been studied in virtual space. It has been shown the development of multimedia technologies. Andoya Mission Control. These missions are that the more immersive the environment the more performed in the students' own classrooms over people accept the simulation and treat the internet. A successful mission require teamwork Increasingly, at the forefront of this innovation simulation as if it were real in a much more wave, one can see schools, universities, and and the ability to turn theoretical knowledge into impactful way than two dimensional video or practical solutions. The educational simulations educational organizations who have noticed how imagery does augmented and virtual reality technologies could are called Mission: Solar Storm and Mission Mars. Since virtual reality is treated like a real life In Mission: Solar Storm, the students act as reshape students experience, improve outcomes, experience, rather than an image or a story like deliver innovative new learning methods, and ground control and must help repair a broken you would get from a film, the user is able to create satellite before a solar storm reaches Earth, even train professionals. These statistics present positive associative experiences in a safe how rapidly the global market of VR/AR is damage the satellite, and endanger the astronaut in space.

In Mission: Mars, the students are responsible for sending a rover to the red planet to search for signs of water and life. The students must work together with a mission pilot in order to program the rover for this task. After the mission, the students analyze the collected data from the Martian surface. As a science teacher with a personal interest in space and space exploration, I was curious to see how “Mission: Mars” would work with our students, says Stine Skarshaug at Molde Videregående Skole.

HerProf. students Danbatta are aged 16 to 19, and she used “Mission: Mars” for her students in Technology and Research, one of the electable courses at the VG2 and VG3 level of Norwegian high school education. The course gives practical insight into Pascalehow academia Ehrenfreund and industry make use of science and technology, and includes software coding, working with electronics, and learning about research methods. Before introducing “Mission: Mars” to their students, the teachers attend a half-day introductory training course which explains how to use and solve the mission, Skarshaug says. Prior to the mission, the students were divided into specialized groups which all reported back to Mission Control. controlled virtual environment. growing. The mission itself lasted about 70 minutes. Afterwards, the students worked with and Immersive learning is the main area for applying One of the largest fields in which virtual reality has VR/AR in education. It allows reduction of the cost analyzed the data from the rover, before writing proven to be an effective tool is in the area of their own reports from the mission covering the of putting a student or a trainee in a normally high- teaching and developing memory. Through risk, high-cost setting, or in a difficult-to-access tasks of their group and the results. – We spent immersion in an environment the body's cognitive about four weeks overall, from preparing the environment. Moreover, one can train with the processes adapt to more closely align with the latest available equipment without the necessity mission, to solving it, and completing the report. virtual environment in which they are present The mission includes side tasks and the teacher of purchasing expensive machinery. This results (Parsons, 2008). The reliance of virtual reality in in stronger retention of the presented material and can adjust the number of these to fit the schedule simulation design, which mimic real world tasks or and progression of their course, Skarshaug says. improvement in educational outcomes. environments, speaks to its ability to convey information and facilitate learning through the Since virtual reality's inception medicine has been The mission tasks are also adjustable according completion of tasks within virtual reality. The close to the age of the students and their experience one of the larger fields to make use of it's potential. ties that virtual reality has to memory make it an Simulation of medical procedures began in virtual with math, physics, coding, geology, and other ideal teaching tool because as the immersion in a science subjects. – “Mission: Mars” includes a reality fairly quickly and were effective to teach task is increased there is also a positive complex medical procedures to students and large package of preparatory material for the correlation on recall. With virtual reality being the teacher. With this the mission can be tailored to practicing medical professionals. The use of most immersive platform, outside of actually virtual reality in the medical field allowed practice any class and level from ages 13 and up, performing the task itself, it has become an Skarshaug says. on procedures without the need for costly model invaluable teaching tool. humans or cadavers, which are often in limited She recommends that the students have some supply. This also allows doctors and students to experience with science, math and particularly In addition, teaching in virtual reality has been software coding before embarking on the mission. practice as often as they have access to the virtual shown to have a comparable effect on the brain as reality simulators. In order to be an effective Several of the students were already interested in it would if the skill being practiced in real life. As space and space exploration, but all students simulation in the medical field it must be long as the level of immersion in the task is strong accurately represented and have controls which enjoyed the new and different way of learning in enough the effects of training in virtual “Mission: Mars”, says Skarshaug. are reflective of the task which they are environments have been shown to enhance the completing. The medical field is where most She found it not only fun for students and teacher learning experience for those involved. This is also alike, but also a useful and flexible tool for studies and documentation on the positive effects one of the areas in which the brain can become

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employing virtual reality to better acclimatize its education. I highly recommend Mission: Mars to According to Raytracer, Titan Lake is a safe and astronauts to conditions they will experience once other teachers, as it can easily be adjusted to practical virtual reality system, as part of the they step across the Earth's boundaries. different types of classes and subjects, covers immersive training process, the user wears a VR | multiple goals for the Technology and Research headset while immersed in a swimming pool. The crux of NASA's expansive Virtual Reality course at VG2, and demonstrates how science and Training will occur in Raytracer's pool facility at its laboratory is to train astronauts in the aspect of technology are used in real life, says Skarshaug. site in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley, with spacewalking. Spacewalking is a maneuver in simulations broadcast to users around the globe. which the astronaut leaves the environment of a In Australia, Raytracer is building a world first virtual Titan Lake will offer a variety of simulations for spaceship and ventures out into space to perform reality simulation technology designed to exploit astronauts to experience the weightlessness of a required action, such a replacing a faulty n e u t r a l b u o y a n c y . space while floating in the pool. module on the spacecraft. The system Dubbed Titan Lake, allows earth bound An astronaut could be training in a lunar orbit, a The most common point of spacewalking is the humans to experience a close proximation of space Martian orbit, or they could be conducting a International Space Station (ISS), a collaborative and weightlessness. Not only is this project spacewalk at the International Space Station with multi-country artificial satellite. The ISS has been important for training future astronauts, it is also the Earth below. Astronauts will be able to work in-orbit since 1998 so there are times when the important for general stakeholder education around together in a live simulation training environment. satellite needs some repair work done on its space related conditions and tasks. This project is They will be able to see the same virtual scenes in exterior. This is when a team of two or more designed to bring space to earth and generate space and work as a team. One astronaut could astronauts exit the ISS and fix the issue while greater interest in this exciting, high-growth sector. be in Raytracer's training pool in Brisbane, and spacewalking. Astronauts typically train in large swimming pools to the other could be at NASA's neutral buoyancy In the past, the problem with spacewalking was get aquainted with the activites that they will lab in the US. Tim Lucas, Raytracer director, said that you didn't know what to expect unless you undertake during a spacewalk. These pools usually the Titan Lake system will use high resolution 3D have spacewalked before. So, NASA have 1:1 models of the ISS International Space renders to help astronauts visualise the researchers, in an effort to reduce mishaps began Station or relevant infrastructure they they are likely environment in space. The software will literally researching on a virtual way to experience to encounter in the vacuume of space. There is a bring space to life. spacewalking in the mid-1980s. The fruit of which reason this training is completed underwater; it is the can be seen in NASA's VR lab. Now, almost all closest sustained feeling to being in space that you Virtual Reality is enabling researchers to explore astronauts who are deployed on the ISS know can experience on Eearth. This is certainly true with incredible places and experience amazing what to expect when they step outside their regard to the sensation of being Neutrally Buoyant; things, in an immersive way. Scientists can now habitable satellite. visually you are still in a swimming pool. explore the International Space Station, walk NASA's virtual reality lab offers a rich virtual reality experience to its astronauts. There is the conventional, graphical 3-dimensional world of the ISS. Using a combination of a headset, haptic feedback gloves, and motion trackers, it gives the astronaut a virtual experience of being outside the ISS. Every segment of the station is modeled in a complete way; with all cables and components. So, when an astronaut wears the gear they can perform a virtual spacewalk, grab objects and explore the space station in detail. This allows them to be acclimatized with the ISS's outer structure so they are not at a relative loss when doing a spacewalk.

Also, Stardust Technologies is on a mission to take virtual reality where it's never been before. The Cochrane-based tech company is researching how simulating Earth-bound activities can help improve astronauts' mental health while on board the International Space Station (ISS) and eventually during long- distance space travel. "It's a very important thing that astronauts feel like they are on Earth," said the company's chief technology office, Jawad El Houssine. " virtual reality technology will be very, very useful for this.”

ESA astronauts Alexander Gerst and Luca Parmitano are working in real time from the European Astronaut Center in Cologne with Thales Alenia Space engineers in the Virtual Reality Lab in Turin. Using digital twin avatars, they experience the same immersive environment representing the interior of the International Habitat, as if they were physically present on the Lunar Gateway in orbit around the Moon.The IHAB program is counting on this advanced digital technology to move forward by In Australia, Raytracer is currently collaborating with around it, interact with equipment inside and find allowing teams to collaborate at a distance while the Australian Space Agency on a federal out more about how astronauts live in space. complying with stringent health measures. government funded project to design technology systems that allow for a fully immersed Neutral In US, virtual reality is no longer a thing of the Virtual reality in research future, it is progressively permeating through Buoyancy environment where we can simulate any Since the appearance of Oculus Rift, Virtual every niche of the society. Whether it is visual and auditory stimulus using our patented Reality has become a common technology in education, law enforcement or just recreational Virtual Reality system. many different fields of research besides its clear activities, we are finding more and more uses of Raytracer is one of the successful grant recipients of application in the entertainment sector. The stepping into an engineered world. So, it comes the The Australian Space Agency grant is also possibility to visualize realistic 3D environments as no surprise that National Aeronautics and working on programs with international space with an affordable computer set-up enhances its Space Administration, NASA is extensively agencies. Raytracer is developing underwater use in laboratories and research facilities. virtual reality training simulations for astronauts. 22 SPECIAL REPORT

participant feels accurately represents the space that was experienced and a negative response is indicated for any images that have been altered from the simulation. The question images were taken from various angles within the space and reflect the same level of realism as the simulation the participant had just experienced. This detailed explanation was chosen because it guides the subject's interaction with the space without giving them specific instructions as to how to interact with the space allowing them to interact with the intention to remember their experience. A detailed method of explaining the study is also needed because without clarity in the explanation, the participant may misunderstand the first stage of the study and perform poorly because of a lack of understanding of the task, and perform better on the subsequent tasks because they have learned how to better approach the problem. The future of virtual learning According to the European Commission Education & Training 2020 programme, as well as the report on the Modernization Agenda of Higher Education, one of the main challenges facing higher education is improvement of quality and relevance of teaching and learning. The expectations of the European market in relation to universities are expressed in qualified, competent and skilled graduates. Future employees would have a thorough education, as well as knowledge, practice and experience in a particular field, required to solve unexpected tasks that involve intricate and The Oculus station is composed of a desktop environment. Since no movement controls are unforeseen operations which require the computer, which will run the simulations using a provided the instructions for interacting with the application of gained knowledge in practice. packaged program from Unreal Engine 4, this space can be limited to “move your head to look Graduates prepared for such situations will allows the simulation to be presented to the user around the space as you would naturally”. affect the economic growth and prosperity of the separate from the editing environment and allows Since the Oculus Rift has both positional and European market. the simulation to take advantage of the full gyroscopic head tracking, this should be the processing power of the computer that may have only instructions that are necessary to give According to a report, nearly 80% of employers been adversely affected by simultaneously running them the full range of interactions intended for reported problems with finding qualified both the editor and simulation. These packaged this study. The participants were also instructed workers. This correlates with the results of projects are presented through the Oculus using a that since the still images they will be identifying surveys conducted by Career Office of Lodz console command. once removed from the simulation are created University of Technology, which show that over in a separate rendering engine that they would 50% of mechatronics graduates feel unprepared The Oculus Rift head mounted display itself is notice changes to lighting, color, and texture for their professional work. Moreover the attached to the desktop computer which is then between the simulation and the images. They surveys show a high demand for practical placed in close proximity to the chair where the were then instructed that the only changes they exercises, which the university is unable to subject is seated so as to allow the user full range of will be asked to observe are changes to the provide due to limited resources in both staff and head movement while taking into consideration the geometry of or objects within the space they equipment. limitations of the length of cord provided for the inhabit. Oculus Rift. A monitor connected to the desktop PC Consequently, more and more educational is also necessary to visualize the packaged project The explanation given prior to the beginning of centers have started to introduce powerful new and launch the simulation in stereo mode through the test is detailed and specific because we technology-based tools that help them to meet the Oculus Rift. The monitor also allows the wanted to prevent the subject's intuitive diverse student needs. For instance, Virtual interaction the participant has with the virtual learning swaying the results to the study. This Labs, an Government of India Initiative, provides environment to be observed through a duplicated was an issue on whatever the randomly chosen remote-access to labs in various disciplines of visual environment from the Oculus onto the main first environment happened to be. By giving a science and engineering. Students of Indian monitor. The final component is the Oculus Rift detailed explanation they were more prepared universities can access numerous tools for positional head tracking camera. This camera to answer questions on the initial simulation. learning, including web-resources, video- allows the user to move their head in three The participants were also told that they were lectures, animated demonstrations and self- dimensions within space to give the participant a going to be placed within three separate evaluations. greater feeling of being immersed within the simulated virtual environments using the environment. This camera is being used in this Oculus Rift at different levels of realism. They Moreover, virtual reality plays an important role study exclusively as a means to provide the are told that they are going to be given a minute in the teaching process, providing interesting simulation with positional data from the head and a half to observe and memorize the space and engaging ways of acquiring information. It mounted display and has no ability to record or after which they were removed from the can help teachers to explain complex issues due document the participant during this study. simulation and asked to respond positively or to its graphical nature combined with an negatively to a series of images that will either explorative approach, physical interactions and Once seated and before placing them in a virtual reflect the space or have something about intuitive interfaces. environment the participant was issued a series of them altered. Virtual reality can be a powerful tool in instructions and an explanation of how the study is supporting and facilitating learning and teaching being conducted and exactly what is being tested The participants were told that they had the processes. A lot of surveys and reports show for. Instructions for interacting with the space have choice to talk through the images if it helped that most students remembered what they saw been intentionally kept vague in order to allow the them come to a decision on the image but no in VR and concluded that VR is a more user the freedom to observe the space as they information would be recorded aside from the memorable environment than laboratory-based would if they had been placed in a real final positive or negative answer. A positive demonstrations. answer is give to any images that the 23 INDUSTRY REPORT

Will LEO satellites outwit the GEO satellites

Starlink is the name of a satellite network that Since the start of space exploration, low Earth orbits SpaceX is developing to provide global broadband between 160–2,000 km above the Earth's surface non-GEO satellites is forecast to rise dramatically. coverage for high-speed internet access, have been used for satellite placement. For instance, particularly for people across the world in rural and Earth observation, spy, and remote sensing Low Earth orbit versus remote areas. Starlink's 1,445 satellites launched is satellites have been using low Earth orbits to obtain by far the most advanced stage of deployment by high-resolution measurements of the Earth's geostationary orbit any lower Earth orbit constellation. Over the coming surface. The International Space Station (ISS) is in a few years, SpaceX plans to send up at least 12,000 LEO of 400–420 km and is in constant orbital decay, In fact, the differences in subscriber data pricing Starlink satellites. Satellite internet is beamed requiring re-boosting a few times a year. The Hubble may be substantial once low Earth orbit through space at a rate that's reportedly 47% faster Space Telescope is also in a LEO position at an commercial services begin. While prices for than fiber-optic cable internet. altitude of 540 km. Communications satellites that wholesale bandwidth are generally not public provide satellite phone service use LEOs, for information, the advent of HTS has led to a SpaceX is an American aerospace manufacturer example, Iridium satellites orbit at about 780 km to divergence in cost for satellite services, with rates and space transportation services company limit latency (the round trip time for data to travel for broadband connectivity falling faster than that founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, a South African- between communication points) delays in voice for broadcast and distribution. born American entrepreneur. Musk is a serial transmissions. entrepreneur starting and selling several In addition, low earth orbit constellations provide A recent interview by the AID & International companies, including PayPal. SpaceX is fundamentally different value propositions Development Forum with the vice-president for headquartered in Hawthorne, California and has compared to geostationary orbit. GEO satellites are global strategic business development at achieved a number of milestones in space flight, positioned at an altitude of 35,786 km and, as a YahClick, a leading satellite broadband service of including the first private company to launch a result, each satellite has a very wide coverage area. United Arab Emirates-based global satellite liquid-propellant rocket to reach orbit; successfully This allows them to focus their bandwidth capacity operator Yahsat and its partner Hughes, noted that launch, orbit, and recover a spacecraft; send a on their coverage area and reduces the requirement for HTS GEO service offerings, the “average spacecraft to the ISS; launch an object into orbit for achieving global coverage to as few as three bandwidth cost [is] between $250 and $400 per around the Sun; and send astronauts into orbit and satellites. However, because of their distance from Mbps per month.” Over the coming decade, to the ISS. the Earth's surface, their minimum latency wholesale rates are expected to fall below $100 thresholds are high roughly at least 0.477 seconds per Mbps per month, with one notable event in Before the 1990s, low Earth orbits were used only for round trip latency. The latest generation of GEO 2019 when it fell below $50 per Mbps per month in by government satellites for military and scientific satellites, known as high-throughput satellites a unique circumstance. missions, but have since become the focus of (HTSs), have a significantly increased capacity, at As LEO and MEO satellites become more commercial deployments. Large-scale commercial least 10 times the throughput than previous ubiquitous, these technologies are expected to deployments first began in the 1990s, when several generations of GEO satellites, while the high latency provide a cost advantage compared to GEO companies tried to provide global connectivity, for (which is a function of distance and the speed of light) satellites. Since LEO constellations are expected example, Globalstar, Iridium, Odyssey, and remains the same. to provide identical coverage for the service area Teledesic. Because individual LEO satellites cover under the constellation's footprint, they could a limited geographic area, constellations need In comparison, LEO constellations require a network potentially offer a uniform pricing model anywhere hundreds or thousands of satellites and of satellites to provide internet service because each in the world. Combined with the high-capacity, ground stations to achieve robust global coverage LEO satellite is traversing the Earth's surface, shorter-term depending on orbital altitude above the Earth's orbiting the planet every 88–127 minutes (and, therefore, more competitive) contracts, surface. (depending on their altitude, between 160–2,000 LEOs could rapidly decrease satellite bandwidth km). Their closer distance to the Earth's surface costs globally. There will also be significant While Starlink's current public beta trial is serving enables them to provide high-speed, low-latency opportunity for regional pricing due to the fact that customers in northern US and Canada between internet. MEO satellites are positioned between LEO the up-front investment in the constellation is the latitudes of 45o and 52o, the expectation is that and GEO orbits, circling the planet by 2,000–35,786 primary cost, and individual satellites are only able service will expand to the 33o latitude by the km. These satellites handle high-speed, low-latency to serve the area under their current location. beginning of 2021, and then to full equatorial data traffic particularly cellular backhaul. coverage the middle to end of 2021. Commercial One of the new LEO constellations in deployment operations have already begun in Australia and The sheer capacity of bandwidth that low Earth orbit is SpaceX's Starlink service, which is the most New Zealand, focused on establishing earth constellations will be able to offer will dwarf existing advanced LEO constellation in deployment in stations.59 Note that commercial operations may high-throughput geostationary orbit satellites. terms of number of satellites and current stage of begin once 1,440 satellites are in orbit, but publicly Individual GEO satellites provide bandwidth capacity internet service offered. Starlink began a public available calculations of broadband throughput are of 1–10 gigabits per second (Gbps), while the first- beta trial program in October 2020 for subscribers based on a constellation estimate of 4,425 generation HTS range is 10–50 Gbps, and third- in the northern United States and Canada between satellites, making the time frame for coverage and generation (HTS Class III) provides capacity of the latitudes of 45o and 52o focusing on rural throughput across Africa, Asia and the Pacific 150–350 Gbps. As an example, the Kacific 1 satellite locations, called uncertain. includes 56 individual beams (Ka band), each having the “Better Than Nothing Beta”. The service pricing For many rural and remote communities, satellites a capacity up to 1.25 Gbps, one of the highest signal offered during the public beta is $99/month for are the only connectivity option. For geographies powers achieved in the region. speeds between 50–150 Mbps, latency between without direct access to fiber optic cable With the next generation LEO constellations 20–40 milliseconds, plus a one-time equipment infrastructure or at great distances from high consisting of hundreds, if not thousands, of satellites fee of $499. No data cap has yet been capacity bandwidth capacity, satellite connectivity each able to transmit tens (10s) of Gbps, the total implemented.26 Based on this data, a per Mbps is the only option available. Even where terrestrial capacity of new constellations is forecast to be in price comparison would see Starlink at network infrastructure that could be used for single digit to 10s of Tbps, dramatically surpassing $0.50–$1.50/Mbps compared to a range of pricing backhaul connectivity is available, satellite existing sellable capacity of GEO. One report from HTS GEO services. It is important to note that deployments are still preferred because satellite forecasts satellite broadband capacity to increase this comparison should be revised when terminals require only electrical power and a clear from an estimated 2 Tbps at the end of 2020, to 20 commercial pricing of LEO becomes available. line of sight to the sky. Tbps by end of 2021, and 60 Tbps by the end of the decade.22 In Asia, bandwidth demand supplied by SpaceX itself manufactures Starlink satellites

24 INDUSTRY REPORT

whereas other LEO providers rely on sourcing satellite in orbit was launched as it began testing sustained during commercial service and even satellites from external parties, particularly from and in 2021, it announced details of its LEO if so, the up-front cost may price some Boeing and Airbus. Telesat, for example, is working constellation, named Lightspeed, consisting of subscribers out of the market, unless some form with Airbus, Thales Alenia Space, and Maxar for its 298 satellites.Telesat is expected to start of amortized financing is offered. satellites, while OneWeb has partnered with Airbus. launching satellites in 2023 The level of subsidy that SpaceX may be Amazon has announced that it will be building its on Amazon's Blue Origin launch vehicles and the absorbing per unit is not known, but industry own satellites at its facilities in Washington state in constellation is expected to cost $5 billion. The reports suggest that phased array flat panel the US. newcomer of the group is Amazon with its Project antennas cost above $1,000 per unit. The vertical integration in both Amazon's and Kuiper announced in 2019. In July 2020, it OneWeb's most affordable user terminal Starlink's production and launch will give them announced planned investment of more than $10 offering is priced at $1,200 per unit before deployment advantages and cost efficiencies. While billion, supported in part by its Blue Origin freight, taxes, and other costs. However, satellite production costs are proprietary company, focused on reusable launch rockets. Starlink should be able to achieve economies of information, disclosures by SpaceX suggest each Project Kuiper has not yet launched any satellites, scale with millions of terminals eventually satellite's capital expenditure cost is below but has Federal Communications Commission required for its global customer base. Even $500,000. It is worth noting that (FCC) approval for 3,236 satellites with Amazon has been detailing its innovations in each Starlink satellite can transmit roughly 20 Gbps commercial service beginning phased array antenna development, noting of capacity per satellite, while an HTS GEO has a once 578 satellites are in orbit. Project Kuiper is successes in designing and developing a small capital expenditure range between $200 million for expected to launch half of its satellites by 2026 12-inch antenna. 10 Gbps on the low end, to $700 million for 1,000 and the remainder by 2029. Other LEO satellite Gbps on the high end, including launch costs. This constellations have been announced, but have makes LEO significantly cheaper on a per Gbps not reached similar levels of planned deployment basis, but each geographic service area requires and/or information about their plans is not publicly Differences in target markets many LEOs in orbit versus only one GEO. One available. At the moment, differences in target markets should note that LEO satellites are designed for In addition, the three constellations with current and customer base are difficult to determine shorter life spans (see Table 3 showing LEO life deployments, especially Starlink, OneWeb, and prior to the launch of commercial services. spans ranging from 5–12 years) compared to GEO Telesat all have significant differences in However, Telesat, for example, has publicly satellites with a minimum 15 years of useful life. configuration and satellites. Starlink satellites are expressed a focus on government clients configured to have lower orbit altitude than its and large enterprises requiring global Comparing low Earth orbit constellations shows that competitors, its latest configuration at up to 550 connectivity. OneWeb, prior to restructuring, Starlink is ahead of its competitors in terms of km off the ground. This will provide lower latencies focused on connecting the last mile and deployment and service position. Four main for satellite-to-earth and earth-to-satellite unconnected communities in emerging companies take the spotlight in terms of next- communication. It originally planned to include markets as well as mobile cellular backhaul. generation LEO constellation deployment for optical inter-satellite links which would reduce Starlink has focused on unserved broadband communications (though the European latency even further over long distances and consumers with income levels that can afford Union, the People's Republic of China, and the provide communications that could theoretically its service offerings, as well as noting a Russian Federation all recently announced LEO even be faster than fiber optic cable due to the constellations. These four are Starlink by SpaceX, vacuum in space. However, inter-satellite links potential strategy to deploy community OneWeb, Lightspeed by Telesat, and Project Kuiper have not yet been fully deployed, and only a few of wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) models. Of note is by Amazon. the satellites launched to date include OISL that Starlink has partnered with Microsoft to Starlink is by far the most advanced in its satellite technology. In Telesat's constellation, each connect its network directly to the latter's deployments with 1,445 satellites launched at satellite will be an internet protocol node, with Azure cloud and data center infrastructure, approximately 550 km above Earth. Announced in each satellite functioning as a router making suggesting a focus on enterprise and 2015 by SpaceX, its constellation is meant to initially decisions on where to send traffic. Telesat's more government clients. Similarly, Amazon's deploy approximately 1,440 of the 260-kilogram (or complex design helps to optimize network Project Kuiper will no doubt leverage the 570-pound) satellites to begin providing near-global architecture and efficiency as its satellites orbit at Amazon Web Services cloud as part of its low-cost internet connectivity service with speeds a higher altitude and will be equipped with OISL. service offering. that rival that of fiber-optic cable technology by Lastly,bBecause Starlink benefits from the in- 2021. The estimated cost of decade-long project Unlike Telesat's model, OneWeb will employ a house launch capacity of SpaceX, its launch (design, build, deploy) approximately traditional “bent-pipe” architecture. Signals cost equates to the marginal launch cost while $10 billion.32 On 15 October 2019, the FCC coming up from the ground will be “repeated” to removing profit margin of Space X, which submitted filings to the ITU on SpaceX's behalf to another beam going down, with no routing taking currently gives them a significant cost and arrange spectrum for 30,000 additional Starlink place, simplifying the networking component of capacity advantage over other competitors. The satellites to supplement the 12,000 Starlink satellite design and engineering, but without the Space X website lists the standard payment satellites already approved by the FCC. SpaceX's potential benefit of overall network redundancies plan for a Falcon 9 launch at $62 million. This obvious advantage is its industry-leading launch and efficiency in data packet routing. The price level has been steady since 2016, before capability with reusable rockets enabling them to differences in orbits and coverage are the current development of reusable stage 1 launch satellites at a fraction of the cost of other demonstrated in Figure 8, including differences in rockets. At this pricing, it was already winning launch providers. average and maximum data rates per satellite. contracts over other launch vehicles. In comparison, OneWeb has the second most number of satellites launched with 146 satellites in However, estimates by the Massachusetts With the development of reusable rockets, orbit. The company was founded in 2012, raised Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2018 on total starting with the first stage component of Falcon over $3 billion from various investors including capacity of three of the LEO constellations in 9, the standard price for a Falcon 9 launch Softbank, but went into bankruptcy in March 2020 current deployment suggested that while each of appears to have dropped to $50 million. citing difficulties in raising capital.35 However, the constellations will have significant capacity Estimates suggest this could drop further to $36 OneWeb came out of bankruptcy proceedings with each over 1 Tbps, Starlink would have the largest million with reusability across all launch the Government of the United Kingdom acquiring a throughput at 23.7 Tbps based on 123 ground costs,54 and even SpaceX chief executive 45% stake for $500 million in July 2020 and India's stations and a total of 4,425 satellites, compared officer Elon Musk has suggested that with Bharti Global also committing investment. In to Telesat with 2.66 Tbps with 40 ground stations further optimization of launch operations and January 2021, OneWeb announced an additional and 117 satellites, and OneWeb with 1.56 Tbps full capital infusion of $400 million from SoftBank and based on 71 ground stations and 720 satellites. reusability, the marginal cost could drop to $5 Hughes Network Systems, for a total of $1.4 billion million–$6 million for a Falcon 9 launch. This since restructuring which OneWeb says will fund the More recent updates from the LEO providers note suggests, even at the $36 million price level, the deployment of 648 satellites planned for launch by that commercial service will begin for Starlink with launch price per payload is already one of the the end of 2022 to provide global coverage.37 Bharti 1,440 satellites, OneWeb with 648 satellites, and cheapest on the planet. Falcon Heavy's Founder and OneWeb Executive Chair Sunil Bharti Telesat with 298. satellites. Low Earth orbit user payload is roughly 3 times larger at 1.5 times the Mittal indicates that $2.3 billion to $2.4 billion is terminal pricing will be an area of intense price and the company is currently developing required to complete the first phase. competition on price and innovation. Very small an even larger rocket system, the Interplanetary aperture terminals (VSATs) for HTS GEO service Transport System, renamed StarShip, which is Canadian Telesat began in 1969 with decades of range around $1,000 each. The current $499 designed to dramatically increase space experience in satellite communications. Its LEO price for the Starlink terminal named “Dishy payload capacity up to 150,000 kilograms, or up plans began in 2016 with an announcement to McFlatface” is a significant price reduction. to 400 Starlink satellites, per launch launch 120 satellites. In 2018, its first and only LEO However, it is not clear if this price level will be

25 ACCENTURE REPORT

Will satellites and 5G spark a new world of mining?

What connects the mining industry, so grounded on earth, with satellites orbiting in space? Data. Tons of it. In fact, mining is a perfectly logical match for the satellite industry. Mine sites are often remote and isolated, and basic land-based connectivity for communication and monitoring is often weak or non-existent. Mining companies have typically relied on aerial imagery and geophysics for exploration, and ground and drone- based surveys for stockpile and tailing dam monitoring. But all that may soon change. Satellites and unmanned drones can provide off- grid broadband communications, high-resolution imagery, and precise geo-positioning services to aid things like autonomous mining. And while access to satellites was historically expensive—if even available—a flood of new, economical satellite options is on the horizon. The number of satellites in orbit is about to explode due to plummeting costs Until recently, only big-budget military organizations could play in the area of satellite imagery and communications. Industry was endurance are being developed that could representing revenue of over US$30 billion per usually left with infrequent pay-per-capture images rapidly collect data at different altitudes with the year by 2025, ten times the US$3 billion a year from a limited constellation of satellites, including ultimate vision to include the stratosphere. that he thinks the rocket launch business will Landsat satellites launched as long ago as the achieve. Morgan Stanley expects Starlink to have 1970s, or costly and slow satellite internet and Satellites may trigger a 360 million subscribers by 2040, earning an communications for instance Iridium, the satellite average US$21 in monthly subscription revenue phone company that went bankrupt in 1999). deluge of data that drives per customer, yielding annual revenue of more Today, however, launch costs to low-Earth orbit disruptive change in mining than US$90 billion. (LEO)160km to 1,000km above the Earth's surface With so much satellite infrastructure being put in Satellites could transform the way miners and place by multiple vendors, miners may have the have come down by a factor of 20. The costs to other remote industries do business, from build satellites have also declined precipitously, luxury of choosing data plans and image orders at exploration to extraction to the final sale of competitive prices. The “cost to play” may be along the same lines as consumer electronics. In products. Miners will have real-time control of all addition, more advanced image capture or surprisingly low, with subscription and cloud- aspects of their value chain to increase based tools replacing expensive upfront capital communications devices can be squeezed into efficiencies and automation, streamline increasingly compact packages. And, expenditures for servers and land-based reporting, improve sustainability and provide communication equipment. Simply put, digital nanosatellites are the size of a shoebox and the early-warning systems for safety and weight of a domestic cat, yet they have as many transformation and automation initiatives will environmental incidents. become far cheaper and simpler than before. capabilities as the fridge-sized satellites of three Even though the long-desired dream of robotic decades ago. mining may ultimately be less data-intensive Some companies have already leveraged these Miners may even decide to launch their own once fully achieved, the transition to such a satellite constellations, now in the realm of lower costs to blaze new trails in space. As of the realm will require enormous data and semi- writing of this blog, Planet Labs has built over 500 possibility given lower launch costs. Alternatively, autonomous capabilities for machine learning miners could choose “rental” missions where satellites and successfully deployed 45210 times purposes. As such, the greatest opportunity for that of any competitor and currently has 200 in orbit customers can literally rent space on a satellite for miners may be the provision of 5G broadband their own devices. For miners to take advantage collecting over 350 million square kilometers of internet to remote mining areas where internet imagery daily. Yet the number of satellites in the of these new opportunities, they will need to be access is typically unavailable or unreliable, thus able to manage real-time data in vastly greater Earth's orbit, currently numbering around 3,000, is allowing them to take advantage of real-time still expected to grow exponentially so much that quantities than they have traditionally. Public data analytics, remote operations and clouds will be able to store and tie in all this orbital traffic management is becoming a concern. automation to operate more efficiently and By 2025 as many as 1,100 satellites could be information between mine sites, plants, ports and profitably than ever before. customers. Artificial intelligence may ultimately launched each year,⁴ up from 386 launched in be able to assist in mine monitoring and onsite 2019. By 2029, the mid-range projection of Both Amazon and SpaceX have announced security by detecting small relevant changes in satellites in orbit is 30,000, while the optimistic satellite 5G broadband initiatives. Amazon's images. Remote Operations Centers (ROCs) number climbs to 107,671. internet initiative, named Project Kuiper, involves could be used to manage the satellite-operated As a result of these trends, multiple applicable a constellation of up to 3,236 satellites in LEO. autonomous equipment. Miners, normally satellites will eventually be overhead at any given SpaceX's ambitious Starlink program aims to accustomed to monitoring the earth at ground moment, and an explosion of reliable 5G gain leverage from its low launch costs and fly level, may soon be doing so from 200km above bandwidth will be available to mining companies to 12,000 small satellites by 2027, with more than ground. With 5G and satellites, the dream of monitor and operate their mines in a way never 1,000 satellites already launched. SpaceX's mining companies to control and monitor mines before possible. Furthermore, it is not just satellites Elon Musk suggested that Starlink might capture remotely may be another step closer. that could be hovering above. High-altitude 3 to 4 percent of the global US$1 trillion internet Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) with ultra-long access market by serving remote customers, 26 EUROPE Europe's space ambition

On March 1, 2021, Josef Aschbacher succeeded Jan Wörner as ESA Director General. Since last fall, he has worked with Member States to define new priorities and goals for the Agency. On April 7, 2021, he released ESA Agenda 2025, in which he laid out five top priorities for the next four years including; strengthening ESA-EU relations, boosting space commercialisation for a green and digital Europe, developing space for safety and security, addressing critical programme challenges, and completing the internal transformation of ESA.

The strategic agenda shows a sense of urgency, with an unusual and pressing tone. The document starts with a call to the European space community at large “to get its act together” and “up its game”. The document recalls that Europe has missed some strategic turning points in the past such as the Then, ESA plans to draft an in-depth States and national security stakeholders is Internet, Big Tech and Artificial Intelligence. It goes on assessment on its experience working with planned to be organised at the end of the year, stressing that a common European space ambition the EU in order to make recommendations which is meant to lead to the proposal of optional needs to be defined with determined actions and bold regarding the future of Copernicus and Galileo programmes. responses to the serious challenges ahead of and to identify new potential flagship Europe. In particular, the document underlines that programmes and partnerships. The Agency Space commercialisation: inaction to adapt to changes stemming from New also plans to establish an independent ad-hoc Space could “threaten the European space group to draft recommendations for this long- adapting to New Space and a economy” and further increase the gap between term vision, including on the evolution of the changing international Europe and other space powers. current governance and new flagship programmes. Throughout this process, the competition ESA Agenda 2025 is a short-term roadmap with long- EU–ESA Space Council, the ESA Council and term implications, which outlines the urgent priorities the EU Competitiveness Council will be key The Agenda takes stock of the changes brought to be addressed by the Agency. ESA Agenda 2025 facilitating entities. This process will lead to a by New Space to the sector and of the threats does not announce new ground-breaking Space Summit to be organized in Spring 2022 they pose to the European space economy. In programmes as it is only the first step towards a new by ESA and the EU, ideally at the Head of this respect, ESA DG seeks to stimulate a “more European ambition for space. It will be State/Head of Government level, to propose a vibrant and dynamic commercial space complemented at a later stage by programmatic long-term space ambition for Europe and ecosystem in Europe”, in particular to support documents such as the Voyage2050 strategic plan potentially announce new flagship green and digital transformations. To boost for science, the update of the technology strategy and programmes such as a multi-orbit secured space commercialisation, ESA identifies three three R&D initiatives on innovative propulsion, in- connectivity system and a Space Traffic key elements to be addressed: talent, access to orbit servicing and manufacturing, and quantum Management initiative. This Summit will be capital and fast innovation. With this end in technologies to be submitted to the approval of followed by the ESA Council Ministerial mind, ESA is notably willing to become a first Member States. Meeting in Autumn 2022. The evolution of the buyer, user or anchor customer on behalf of its European space governance will also be Member States and the EU to boost public considered, giving way to a proposal to be demand and foster access to capital for space Strengthening ties with the formalised in a follow-up summit, tentatively in companies and commercial projects. In 2023. addition, ESA plans to provide technical European Union: the first expertise in cooperative schemes with venture capital funds and private investors, which is priority Developing the safety and envisioned as a “radical shift” in ESA Agenda security pillar: adapting to 2025. The first priority of ESA Agenda 2025 is to strengthen ESA's plan to foster space commercialisation in relations with the EU. The joint letter sent to Member new threats on Earth and in Europe is broad and includes concrete States by EU Commissioner Thierry Breton and ESA space objectives such as the reduction of the average DG Josef Aschbacher in March 2021 underlines the time-to-contract, the increase in development clear and shared political willingness from both and adoption of innovative technologies by 30% parties to rethink and reinforce their relations. As new threats arise on Earth and in space, as well as the doubling of its spending on game- The most pressing issue is to finalize the negotiation ESA plans to increase its activities in the changing technologies. Among other things, of the Financial Framework Partnership Agreement safety and security pillar. Historically, this pillar ESA plans to pool laboratories and testing (FFPA). Since the first Framework Agreement in was mostly centred on space safety in space, facilities, open access to its technical facilities 2004, which drew the legal basis for cooperation focused on space weather, debris mitigation and thus adopt an “innovate and apply under- between the EU and ESA, the FFPA has laid out the and planetary defence. In this domain, ESA one-roof” approach. principles for the financial and administrative will continue to expand its activities by ESA Agenda also stresses that a common cooperation between the two institutions. It specifies launching an Active Debris Removal (ADR) industrial policy is needed to implement the the responsibilities and the sharing of costs for EU service, which will further support the future European vision for space. However, the flagship programmes. The new FFPA is currently in establishment of a commercially viable market EU and ESA have different approaches to negotiation as part of the new Multiannual Financial for ADR and in-orbit servicing. procurement. Additionally, diverging opinions Framework (MFF). It will clarify the role of EUSPA, With regards to security (space for security on are not uncommon between Member States on streamline the various agreements and working Earth), ESA has always been cautious in issues such as the commercial relevance of a arrangements with GSA or Horizon Europe, and addressing these issues due to their dual European constellation, the technical features provide coordination and control mechanisms to nature and a lack of consensus among its of Ariane 6 or the adequacy of geographical avoid duplication. Both parties seek to get the FFPA Member States. In this context, ESA plans to returns for commercial procurement. Therefore, approved by mid-year. position the Agency more prominently on it remains to be seen how the strengthening of Agenda 2025 outlines a clear roadmap centred security matters by involving motivated EU-ESA relations will enable the two entities to around two priorities: establishing a high-level Member States. It will conduct an analysis on overcome their diverging views to establish a political dialogue and developing a concrete proposal Member States and EU priorities in this common industrial strategy for space. to strengthen the current cooperation model. ESA domain to see which gaps could be filled in by first plans to engage with its Member States, the the Agency. A conference on space for safety European Commission, and the industry to define and security gathering motivated Member

27 MIDDLE EAST

Employee Spotlight Getting to know Gil Bialik

Gilat Satellite Networks latest Employee Spotlight features Gil Bialik, VP of Next Generation Networks

How about introducing The satellite communication industry is going orbit, 36,000Km above the equator) MEO through a huge transformation in order to satellites are constantly moving with respect the yourself. deliver the ubiquitous connectivity that the surface of the earth and as a result require special tracking terminals. MEO terminals point My name is Gil Bialik. I am 53 years old, married with world is expecting. Here at Gilat we are and track the moving satellites and are able to 3 kids. I have a BSc in Aeronautical Engineering developing a new platform that will make this switch between satellites as they rise or set from the Technion (Israel's equivalent to MIT) and possible, with higher scale and performance below the horizon. Since MEO satellites are not an MBA from Tel Aviv University. I decided to using the latest technologies available today in limited to a single orbit and since they are closer become an engineer because I have always been our hardware and software domains. to earth than GEO satellites, they have the very curious about how things actually work. I also potential to provide better communication links, enjoy the creative process of coming up with new Are you happy that you with much higher capacity and less latency. ideas that can turn into real products that can actually help people. joined the team at Gilat? Looking back to past D e f i n i t e l y, f o r t w o m a i n r e a s o n s : projects, what was your An engineer with an MBA? 1. The people here are amazing. I am surrounded by extremely talented people who favorite project to work on? Should that surprise me? are not only smart but also genuinely nice and fun to work with. Not really. Most engineers work in a business After I joined Gilat, one of the first projects I was 2. Satellite communication is cool. We are environment. In order to deliver the best technical involved with was to deliver a cellular working on cutting edge and futuristic solutions, I believe it's critical to understand the backhauling network to a major operator in the technologies to serve projects including: business environment in which they will be US. It involved developing new system Algorithms for bandwidth efficiency implemented. I think more and more engineers capabilities in a very short period of time and a optimization today are including business studies as a key part of very challenging integration with a Tier-1 mobile Complex network orchestration and their education. phone network. management applications What made it so great was the teamwork; this was Airborne and maritime modems and an extremely complicated project yet everyone antennas came together to make it work. I think that this is a In our last Employee Electronically Steered Antennas for mobility very unique aspect of working at Gilat – we applications Spotlight we met Dubi, who understand that as individuals we can do good High-capacity RF receivers and transmitters things but as a team we can accomplish anything. has worked for Gilat for 24 These products and projects are bridging the years. You too? digital divide to provide communication capabilities to people and places that have What's your best advice for until now been cut off from the rest of the world. young engineers just I started here at Gilat 5 years ago. I guess you would like to know how I got here. I started my getting started? career in the telecommunications industry as a What are you currently systems engineer at a large company. It was a working on? Always aim to be the best at what you are great way to jump start my career. From there I currently doing. Don't focus too much on your moved to a small video networking company The project that I am currently managing is designed to provide high throughput next position until you truly master the roles and where I managed the R&D activity. My next responsibilities of your current position. If you do industry move was to the broadcast technology communication using Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites. The project involves many this, your next position will come sooner than you domain where I really got to do it all; marketing, think. product management, technological challenges including high- system architecture and S/W development capacity communication channels and management. The company was acquired and I integration with a new and complex MEO What do you like to do was very fortunate to add organizational satellites constellation. management and the management of overseas when you aren't working? R&D groups to my skills box. Harnessing all of my Back up; I thought Gilat I like spending time with my family, taking fields experience, I came to Gilat to manage the system trips around the country and exploring our architecture and product delivery teams before I worked on GEO. What is amazing history, culture and landscapes. moved to my current position; VP of Next MEO? Generation Networks where I am responsible for Describe working for Gilat the development of Gilat's next generation MEO satellites orbit the earth at a height of flagship product. several thousand kilometers. Unlike Geo- in one sentence. Stationary satellites (located at a specific There's never a dull moment (in a good way.)

28

IN THE NEWS ASIA

China announces The picture above was taken by a navigation which can cause them to burn up and camera, with the lens pointing to the rear of disintegrate. But larger ones such as the Long successful launch of Ocean the rover. The figure shows that the rover's March-5B may not be destroyed entirely. Their 2D satellite representing solar wing and antenna are normally wreckage can land on the surface of the planet deployed; the surface of Mars has a clear and may cause damage and casualties, though 370th launch of the Long texture and rich landform information. that risk is low. Last year, debris from another March series On May 15, after the Tianwen-1 mission Chinese Long March rocket fell on villages in landing patrol successfully soft-landed in the the Ivory Coast, causing structural damage but pre-selected landing zone in the southern no injuries or deaths. That, and the one that China's Long March 4B carrier rocket at the Utopia Plain of Mars, the rover established came down Sunday, are tied for the fourth- Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center has ground communication. On May 17, the biggest objects in history to undergo an successfully launch the Ocean 2D satellite. The orbiter implemented the fourth near-fire brake uncontrolled re-entry, according to data from satellite successfully entered the scheduled and entered the relay communication orbit, Harvard-based astronomer Jonathan orbit, and the mission was a complete success. establishing a stable relay communication McDowell. The uncertainty and risks of such a The star will play an important role in promoting link for the Mars rover, and successively re-entry sparked accusations that Beijing had the construction of a maritime power, sending back image data. At present, the behaved irresponsibly. US Defense Secretary expanding the blue economic space, rover is carrying out preparations for leaving Lloyd Austin suggested last week that China safeguarding the national maritime rights and the landing platform, and will select an had been negligent, and NASA Administrator interests, and promoting the development of opportunity to drive onto the surface of Mars Bill Nelson echoed that after the re-entry. marine high-tech. and begin inspections. “Spacefaring nations must minimize the risks to Ocean-2D is the third operational satellite of the people and property on Earth of re-entries of National Space Infrastructure Ocean Power space objects and maximize transparency Satellite series. It will form my country's Ocean Chinese rocket segment regarding those operations,” Nelson said in a Power Environment Satellite Constellation with disintegrates over indian statement. “It is clear that China is failing to Ocean-2B and Ocean-2C, and is mainly used meet responsible standards regarding their to observe sea surface wind fields. Information ocean, NASA says China space debris.” such as sea surface height, effective wave behaved 'IRRESPONSIBLY’ height, gravity field and ocean circulation will provide strong support for sea condition China's space ambitions A large segment of a Chinese rocket re- forecasting, storm warning, precipitation To avoid such scenarios, some experts have entered the Earth's atmosphere and forecasting, surface analysis and global recommended a redesign of the Long March- disintegrated over the Indian Ocean, the climate change research. 5B rocket — which is not equipped for a Chinese space agency said, following controlled descent. “An ocean reentry was fevered speculation over where the 18-tonne The National Space Administration is always statistically the most likely,” McDowell object would come down. Officials in Beijing responsible for the organization and tweeted. “It appears China won its gamble. But had said there was little risk from the implementation of the Ocean II D-satellite it was still reckless.” freefalling segment of the Long March-5B project; the China Academy of Space Chinese authorities had downplayed the risk, rocket, which had launched the first module of Technology and Shanghai Aerospace however. “The probability of causing harm to China's new space station into Earth orbit on Technology Research Institute under China aviation activities on the ground is extremely 29 April. Aerospace Science and Technology low,” foreign ministry spokesman Wang But the US space agency NASA and some Corporation are responsible for the Wenbin said. Beijing has poured billions of experts said China had behaved development of satellite systems and launch dollars into space exploration to boost its global irresponsibly, as an uncontrolled re-entry of vehicle systems; the China Satellite Launch, stature and technological might. The launch of such a large object risked damage and Measurement and Control System Department the first module of its space station — by the casualties. “After monitoring and analysis, at is responsible for The launch site and Long March rocket that came down was a 10.24 (0224 GMT) on 9 May 2021, the last- measurement and control system are milestone in its ambitious plan to establish a stage wreckage of the Long March 5B Yao-2 organized and implemented; the Ministry of permanent human presence in space. launch vehicle has re-entered the Natural Resources is the user department, and atmosphere,” the China Manned Space the National Satellite Ocean Application Center Engineering Office said in a statement, China says the debris of the is responsible for the construction of ground providing coordinates for a point in the Indian systems and application systems. last stage of the Long Ocean near the Maldives. It added that most of the segment disintegrated and was March-5B Y2 carrier rocket China releases images of its destroyed during descent. The US military's reentered the atmosphere first Mars exploration Space Command said the rocket “re-entered over the Arabian Peninsula at approximately. mission “It is unknown if the debris impacted land or Sixty years after Yuri Gagarin undertook water.” mankind's first space journey, China launched The China National Space Administration has Monitoring service Space-Track, which uses the core capsule of its space station, formally released images taken by the Mars rover US military data, said that the location in embarking on the buildup of one of the during the landing process of the first Mars Saudi Arabia was where American systems humanity's largest and most sophisticated exploration Tianwen-1 mission probe. In the last recorded it. space-based facilities. image, the landing platform and the departure “Operators confirm that the rocket actually As the countdown ticked down to zero at 11:23 ramp of the “Zhu Rong” rover, solar wing, went into the Indian Ocean north of the am at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in antenna and other mechanisms are deployed Maldives,” it tweeted. The segment's descent Hainan province, 10 engines at the bottom of a normally. matched expert predictions that any debris Long March 5B heavy-lift carrier rocket roared The picture above was taken by the front would have splashed down into the ocean, to life, generating a thrust power of 1,068 metric obstacle avoidance camera of the rover, facing given that 70 percent of the planet is covered tons to lift the 18-story-tall vehicle through thick the direction of the rover. In the picture, it can be by water. Because it was an uncontrolled rain clouds covering the coastal city of seen that the ramp mechanism is deployed descent, there was widespread public Wenchang. normally; the two extension rods on the upper interest and speculation about where the According to the China National Space Agency, part of the image are subsurface radars that debris would land. American and European China's most adventurous space endeavor, the have been deployed in place; the terrain in the space authorities were among those tracking multimodule space station, named Tiangong, forward direction is clear. In order to get a larger the rocket and trying to predict its re-entry. or Heavenly Palace, will be mainly composed range of terrain information in the direction of of three components-a core module attached to the rover, the obstacle avoidance camera uses Accusations of negligence two space laboratories-with a combined weight of nearly 70 tons. The core capsule, named a large wide-angle lens. Under the influence of Objects generate immense amounts of heat Tianhe, or Harmony of Heavens, is 16.6 meters the wide-angle lens distortion, the distant and friction when they enter the atmosphere, horizon forms an arc. long and has a diameter of 4.2 meters. It has

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three parts-a connecting section, a life- module placed in orbit. In turn, in June, the first support and control section and a resources China launches the first manned ship Shenzhou 12 with three taikonauts section. module of its large space will arrive there. In turn, in autumn, the ships The module will be central to the space Tianzhou 3 (September) and Shenzhou 13 are to station's future operations, given that station as construction be moored there, probably with – respectively – astronauts will live there and control the entire begins another transport of equipment and a new crew. station from inside. It will also be used to host The Tiânhé module will be able to receive scientific experiments. manned and cargo spacecraft, as well as connect However, the China National Space Agency China has launched from the Baikonur to certain types of Chinese satellites. The reports that the debris of the last stage of the Wenchang in Hainan Province rocket Chang Chinese don't want to do with CSSan Long March-5B Y2 carrier rocket reentered Zheng 5B, which was the top of the first international station in a similar sense to that of the atmosphere at 10:24 a.m. on Sunday module of the space station planned this the ISS, which is indeed the fruit of the (Beijing Time), the China Manned Space large country – the central segment called collaboration of many nations. However, there Agency (CMSA) said. The vast majority of the Tianhe. The new space station of the are some, for now general, declarations about device burned up during the reentry, and the Tiângông program (using the experience of cooperation with other countries, although it is landing area of the debris is around a sea area its smaller predecessors – Tiângông -1 and possible that it is simply about Russia, with which with the center at 2.65 degrees north latitude Tiângông -2) is to be the first large facility of the PRC wants to build a common base on the and 72.47 degrees east longitude, said the this type owned by China. The station moon. agency. (unofficially called CSS, from Chinese Space Station – alternatively: CLMSS, Chinese Large Modular Space Station) is expected to After the moon, China plans China hosts 7th start operating next year. The first module just to land on the Earth's Trojan International Academy of sent is called TCM ( Tiânhé Core Module ), i.e. the element around which the base will be asteroid Astronautics Planetary expanded by adding new segments. The Defense Conference entire construction of the station is to be The Chinese Space Conference is currently associated with the implementation of being held in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu On the evening of April 28, 2021, at the another 10 space missions in the years 2021- Province, and visitors have been given the International Space Agency Leaders Forum at 2022, during which further elements will be opportunity to sunbathe on China's great the Seventh International Academy of carried, the assembly of which is to be carried achievement from 2020 : samples of land from Astronautics Planetary Defense Conference out in orbit. the moon brought in the Changa 5 mission – the hosted by the United Nations Office for Outer first since Soviet Luna 24 in 1976. China has had Space Affairs and hosted by the International The successful launch of the first module is a a very impressive year in space, with Tianwan 1, Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and ESA great milestone in the Chinese space China's first mission to Mars, the debut flight of (ESA) , Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the program – the Chinese orbital base has been the new heavy launcher Long March 5 and the National Space Administration, delivered a talked about for over a dozen years, and its completion of the Baidu satellite navigation speech in the form of a recorded video. suggestive (though imaginary) vision was system (the Chinese equivalent of American In her speech, Wu Yanhua gave a concluding already presented in mass culture, in the film GPS). introduction to China's work on near-Earth “Gravity”. Previously, the PRC had two But in China do not rest on laurels, and look asteroid monitoring since the 1950s, and smaller experimental Tiangong orbital ahead. As part of the conference, it was introduced the asteroid exploration missions modules in orbit temporarily. The first announced that the construction of the Zhangha that China is demonstrating. This mission will operated in 2011-2018, while the second – in probe, named after the 15th-century Chinese be open to the international community and the period from 2016 to 2019. After explorer, had begun. The lander will be launched will conduct extensive cooperation and completing their tasks, both installations were in 2024, landing, drilling and collecting ground exchanges with the international community deorbitated. samples from the asteroid Camouflage. The in asteroid detection technology, international The inauguration of the new CSS station is to small asteroid, discovered by the Pan-STARRS monitoring and early warning, and on-orbit start the era of permanent Chinese presence Observatory in Hawaii in 2016, is the closest, operations. in orbit around the Earth and enable further smallest and most stable of the Earth's two Trojan exploration and development of the space asteroids , the same bodies that orbit the Sun in Finally, Wu Yanhua said that the China program. The shipped module will remain orbit with Earth. National Space Administration will establish unoccupied for the time being, but it has living After bringing Earth samples from Camouflage to an organizational system and work process to quarters for a crew of three, and has life Earth, the Zhangha lander will be assisted by deal with collision risks on the basis of support systems, propulsion for orbit gravity in maneuvering a gravitational plexus to research on related technologies such as correction, and an energy delivery and gain speed toward the next destination: Elast- near-Earth object monitoring and early storage system. Pizarro, an asteroid / comet in the asteroid belt. warning, and actively participate in the The object, discovered in 1979 and considered activities of relevant international The station is to orbit the Earth at altitudes of an asteroid, was photographed by astronomers organizations, and is willing to discuss with 370-450 km and will function for 15 years. Elast and scattered in 1996 when it was seen with the international community. The “joint Currently, as many as four Chinese a comet's tail. The Chinese spacecraft will bomb defense” mechanism, the joint construction of spacecraft can dock at the same time to the the asteroid / comet Elast-Pizarro with the aim of “joint aid” forces, and the sharing of “joint main module, but this is due to the fact that exposing its surface, and then deploy a nano- survey” data have made positive contributions connections with further planned modules scope and nano-lander to shampoo the bone to global planetary defense. are prepared there. In total, by 2022, it is composition, with an emphasis on water, and try planned to connect two more modules ( to dispel the mystery. The leaders of space agencies in the United Wentian and Mengtian ). The station then States, Europe, Austria, Brazil, Japan, South weighs 66 tons and is T-shaped. For China Space Day: CNSA Korea and other countries, and Ms. Di Pippen, comparison, the ISS station weighs 450 tons. Director of the United Nations Office for Outer The difference is therefore considerable, but invites envoys and Space Affairs, attended the forum and it is believed that potentially additional three international players delivered a speech. At the forum, various modules could be connected to the Heavenly countries and international organizations Harmony, bringing their number to six. introduced the prospects of international At least 12 taikonauts are currently trained to In April 2021, China National Space planetary defense work and related work that work on the expanded CSS ( Tiângông ): Administration invited some representatives of has been carried out by their countries and the veterans of previous missions and new ones foreign embassies in China and personnel of organization, and exchanged opinions and – including women. international organizations to go to Nanjing, suggestions. In the coming days, a cargo ship Tianzhou 2 Jiangsu Province to participate in the 2021 with a supply of supplies is to dock to the “China Space Day” series of themed activities. 31 IN THE NEWS ASIA

Director of the National Space Administration Space Day. the goals of the Technology Investment Zhang Kejian attended the opening ceremony Roadmap and facilitate deployment and export and delivered a speech. Deputy Director of Australia launches new of home-grown low emissions technologies the National Space Administration Wu and energy. Australia is already collaborating Yanhua released the name of my country's roadmap targeting emissions with our trading and strategic partners, first Mars rover “Zhu Rong” on the spot. and jobs creation with including Germany, Japan, Korea, Singapore, China has always adhered to the peaceful the UK and the US. This year, ahead of use of space for the benefit of mankind, and is international partnerships COP26, the Government will ramp up that committed to extensive international collaboration. cooperation in the field of space. Director of A series of new international technology Australia's Special Adviser on Low Emissions the United Nations Office for Outer Space partnerships are set to make low emissions Technology, Dr Alan Finkel, will play a key role Affairs Di Pippen, General Manager Rogozin technologies cheaper and drive investment in in brokering new international partnerships. of the Russian National Aerospace Australia-based projects that create jobs. Australia's Technology Investment Roadmap Corporation, and Chairman of the Pakistan is expected to guide $18 billion of Government Outer Space and Atmospheric Research A new $565.8 million commitment by the investment over the next 10 years and drive at Committee Deem and other representatives Morrison Government in the 2021-22 Budget will least $70 billion of total new investment in low of the international aerospace industry sent a help create up to 2,500 jobs by backing low emissions technologies in Australia by 2030. congratulatory video. emissions international technology partnerships Our plan will support 130,000 jobs by 2030 and and initiatives by co-funding research and avoid in the order of 250 million tonnes of M i n i s t e r A r s h a d o f P a k i s t a n a n d demonstration projects. The partnerships will emissions by 2040. representatives of diplomatic missions to leverage $3 to $5 of co-investment for every China from 12 countries including Russia, dollar invested and Australia is in discussion with ISRO invites researchers to Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, potential partners that will build on our already Japan, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Thailand, strong relationships. explore AstroSat data, and the United States. More than a hundred ISRO's first satellite people including representatives of Prime Minister Scott Morrison said technology international organizations such as the Rice partnerships were key to the world finding the dedicated to Astronomy Foundation, representatives of the Russian solutions to the world's climate challenges and National Aerospace Corporation and the creating new jobs and protecting jobs in heavy Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO is French National Space Research Center in industries and regional areas. “These soliciting for proposals from the Astronomy China, and media reporters participated in the partnerships mean Australia will keep leading the community for utilizing AstroSat archival data. “China Space Day” event. way in low emissions technology that also means According to ISRO, the announcement is open more jobs here at home,” the Prime Minister said. to Indian scientific community for submitting In his opening speech, Zhang Kejian pointed “The world is changing and we want to stay research proposals towards utilisation of data out that China Aerospace has always ahead of the curve by working with international from any and/or all the experiments for limited adhered to the concepts of equality and partners to protect the jobs we have in energy- financial assistance. mutual benefit, peaceful use, and win-win reliant businesses, and create new jobs in the low AstroSat, ISRO's first satellite dedicated to cooperation, actively participated in emissions technology sector. “As we look to take Astronomy was launched on September 28, international space governance, deepened advantage of these new export opportunities, we 2015. Five Scientific payloads were flown space science exchanges and cooperation, won't look to reduce our own emissions by onboard AstroSat. The multi-wavelength and shared global disaster prevention and shutting down our existing export industries like observations started six months after the mitigation responses, and contributed to agriculture, aluminium, coal and gas. launch and providing world-class data from global sustainable development. Promote the Ultra Violet to High Energy X-rays. construction of a community of shared future “Cheaper energy from new technology that AstroSat data was opened to public by the for mankind in the space field. meets our emissions reduction commitments Chairman, ISRO / Secretary DOS on means lower costs to businesses so they can September 26, 2018. Data from all the Zhang Kejian emphasized that exploring the keep employing Australians and grow jobs for the payloads, Ultra-Violet Imaging Telescope vast universe is the common dream of all future. “We'll work closely with our friends and (UVIT), Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT), Large mankind. The China National Space neighbours to play our part in the global effort to Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC), Administration will continue to uphold the cut emissions through technology while driving Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) and Scanning principle of “consult, build, and share”, further economic growth, creating jobs and pushing Sky Monitor (SSM) are made opene for users deepen international exchanges and down energy costs.” around the world. These archival data are cooperation, walk side by side with the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction available for download from Indian Space international community, and work together to Angus Taylor said the world looked to Australia as Science Data Centre (ISSDC) at AstroBrowse. make new and greater contributions to a leader in new and emerging energy The released AstroSat data consists of exploring the mysteries of the universe and technologies. “The five technologies prioritised observations on Supernova Remnants, Active enhancing the well-being of mankind! under our Technology Investment Roadmap Galactic Nuclei, galactic clusters and several have the potential to substantially reduce or other exciting astronomical objects providing During the “China Space Day” event, envoys eliminate emissions from sectors that account for China launched two satellite for its GPSsystem (Source: China Daily opportunities for studying the cosmos from UV of many countries in China, representatives of 90 per cent of global emissions,” Minister Taylor to X-rays for users. international organizations and institutions said. attended the launching ceremony and “Getting new energy technologies to parity will conducted profound and extensive enable substantial reductions in global emissions ISRO hosts experts' international space seminars on space – in both developing and developed countries – webinar on Indians CORS, cooperation. Visited China Aerospace Day and ensure countries don't have to choose Science Popularization Week Exhibition, between growth and decarbonisation. “But exploring the prospects of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Australia won't be able to make these NavIC” Astronautics, Nanjing University of Science technologies globally scalable and commercially and Te chnology, Purple Mountain viable all on our own. Observatory of Chinese Academy of ISRO has organized a two-day webinar on Sciences and other aerospace universities “Rapid progress and innovation can be achieved “Continuously Operating Reference Stations a n d r e s e a r c h i n s t i t u t i o n s . T h e when the world works together towards a (CORS) in India – Prospects of NavIC”. Shri. representatives of the diplomatic envoys in common goal. “We need to bring a laser-like Umamaheswaran R, Scientific Secretary China stated that participating in the “China focus and collaborative effort to accelerating the ISRO inaugurated the webinar and provided Space Day” event has gained a lot. This development of practical technology pathways.” the opening remarks. Shri. Nilesh Desai, “China Space Day” is very meaningful. It is not Today's announcement will advance and support Director SAC provided the introductory only China's Space Day, but also the world's remarks. 32 IN THE NEWS ASIA

The webinar is being attended by eminent proximity, such as public facilities, restaurants, traditional media players. And with more than 60 national experts in the field of geodesy, lodging facilities, event venues and offices. In online video services in India, the total geodynamic studies, atmospheric sciences, fiscal 2021, NEC expects to provide a prototype addressable market will continue to expand. and aerial surveying. The webinar is also of a fixed-type spatial monitoring measuring This local expansion is what Sunil Rayan, being attended by the prominent Indian and device for companies, universities and other President and Head of Disney+ Hotstar, is global industries in the field of high precision research institutions that perform virus eyeing, with their next stage for growth primed at GNSS. The deliberations and discussions in measurement and other measures. In addition, developing their product for India, with pricing webinar are aimed at formulating a in fiscal 2022, NEC aims to provide a biosensing and content made for the local market. As India is comprehensive frame-work for NavIC- system that can be used for space monitoring a mobile first market which drives individual based CORS implementation in India, in line and as an embedded device for equipment such viewing, while OTT and TV is not a zero sum with the Government of India's initiative. as air conditioners. game, OTT content needs to be far more engaging for individual viewing. “Fundamentally, NEC contributes to Global eagle entertainment we don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach for India because there are multiple Indias within development of artificial signs capacity extension India, said Rayan. DNA aptamer that binds to with ABS The sentiment of diversity and positive co- the novel coronavirus existence between the platforms was echoed by (SARS-CoV-2) ABS, a global satellite operator announced Megha Tata, MD of South Asia for Discovery today that Global Eagle Entertainment (GEE), Communications India. “India lives in several the leading provider of high-speed connectivity centuries at the same time,” commented Tata, NEC Corporation and NEC Solution and entertainment solutions for worldwide and this is not only the beauty and complexity of Innovators announced the successful mobility markets, has renewed and expanded the market but also the opportunity to do more. development of artificial DNA aptamers that its multi-year, multi-transponder agreements for While it is still a long way away before the demise bind to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV- its growing demand for mobility connectivity of the TV, a differentiated content and product 2). This breakthrough stems from the NEC capacity. offering remains a key focus. “Content is the king Group's efforts to promote spatial monitoring Besides securing existing ABS capacity on . . . distribution is the god . . . that play of god and business using aptamers, including the ABS-6 C-band, ABS-3A C-band and ABS-2 Ku- king will continue but differentiation of content will development of new biosensing systems, band beams, GEE has also expanded its play a critical part in decision making, “added such as measuring equipment that can services on ABS-2. Combined, the ABS Tata. monitor spaces where various viruses, capacity provides GEE comprehensive This focus on local content is also what drives the including SARS-CoV-2 and influenza coverage across continents and oceans, from content platforms. Monika Shergill, VP of viruses, are present. the Americas, across to Western Europe, the Content for Netflix India, shared that premium Middle East, North East Asia and into the Pacific storytelling was a new space in India, as Indian The aptamer developed by NEC Solution Ocean. The capacity will be optimized to provide audiences were open to experimentation and yet Innovators targets RBD, which is the key to reliable connectivity and seamless connections gravitating towards highly local tastes. “Our job infection, then traps the virus by recognizing for mobile communications and entertainment and our passion is to find the best stories . . . the the three-dimensional structure of the RBD for a wide variety of mobility customers and their biggest stories . the untold stories from India and and binding very strongly to it (*4, a end-users. The connectivity network supports to become the service of choice for Indians in dissociation constant indicating the strength the provision of services such as Wi-Fi, VoIP, India and in different parts of the world,” added of the binding between molecules is less multi-media live and on-demand video Shergill. than 1nM). This aptamer uses a new streaming, and greater bandwidth for crew modified base called Base appended Base applications. For Nimisha Pandey, Head of Hindi Originals, (*5, Patent No. 6763551), which was ZEE5, while the initial focus was on building developed by NEC Solution Innovators and “We are delighted to have negotiated this multi- volume, it has now shifted to adding to the Gunma University from 2014-2017 year contract renewal and expansion with GEE, diversity and scaling up the content offering. supported by a grant for “Adaptable and which is a testament to ABS' reliability of Pandey too saw the need to up the game on the Seamless Technology Transfer Program connectivity and attractive service offering,” regional market for the next set of growth. “There through Target-driven R&D” (A-STEP) from said Jim Frownfelter, Chairman and CEO of is . . . so much demand that . . . there is much the Japan Science and Technology Agency). ABS. “ABS is proud to be part of GEE's satellite hope for everyone . . . to grow their businesses,” network that brings reliable connectivity and said Pandey. Three variants of SARS-CoV-2, including entertainment to vessels around the world.” the original strain (WK521 Wuhan strain) As the market where the next billion consumers and two mutant strains (TY7-501 Brazilian India sees Huge Headroom of video will come from, Archana Anand, Chief and QK002 UK strains) are being studied by Business Officer of ZEE5 Global summed it up academic laboratories in collaboration with for Growth Across TV and best when she said, “It is the decade of video.” the NEC Group. The binding assessment tests with aptamers were conducted in a Digital biosafety level 3 (*6, BSL3) laboratory, which ISRO aims for 7 more is allowed to handle SARS-CoV-2. At the Asia Video Industry Association's (AVIA) recently on the Future of Video India launches from India in 2021 Binding assessment tests were conducted conference, industry leaders remained upbeat using the Direct ELAA method (*7), in which on the potential for growth despite a painful Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) viruses were adsorbed onto plates and 2020 which had seen a 25% drop in TV launches Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) detected with enzyme-labeled aptamers. As advertising revenue. C-50 carrying CMS-01 communication satellite a result, a strong binding of aptamers to The conference opened with an overview of the with the pandemic having enveloped 2020 ISRO SARS-CoV-2 was observed in all three Future of Video in India with Mihir Shah, VP, is targetting at least seven more launches, strains. India, at Media Partners Asia (MPA). With including the uncrewed Gaganyaan mission. learnings from the last year and economic from India this year, while PSU new space India NEC is developing a measuring device that resurgence picking up in certain sectors, MPA limited(NSIL) plans to launch one satellite enables spatial monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 predicts that in the next 5 years, with every new through a foreign launch provider. by combining MSSs (*8, Membrane-type incremental dollar in the region, India will have Of the six other than Gaganyaan to be launched Surface Stress Sensor) and an aptamer that 35% share, almost evenly divided between from the spaceport in sriharikota, three will be binds to SARS-CoV-2. This measuring television and online video. While cable in earth observation, including one for ocean device is designed to be used in spaces general is going through a structural decline, studies, one remote sensing satellite, a where people gather and spend time in close Pay TV subscriptions will grow both in value and commercial launch, and one navigation satellite. volume and continue to offer scale for the A scince satellite to study the sun(Aditya-LI) that

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the right reveal each galaxy's spiral structure Location, Location, TGS Collaborates with in more detail. The catalogue names of the Canadian Discovery to bursts are FRB 190714 (top row), and FRB Location 180924 (bottom row). The galaxies are far The images display a diversity of spiral-arm Develop a Regional CO2 from Earth, appearing as they looked billions structure, from tightly wound to more diffuse, Storage Atlas of years ago. The dotted oval lines in each of revealing how the stars are distributed along the four images mark the location of the these prominent features. A galaxy's spiral TGS, a global provider of energy data and brilliant radio flares.Credits: SCIENCE: arms trace the distribution of young, massive intelligence, today announced that it is NASA, ESA, Alexandra Mannings (UC Santa stars. However, the Hubble images reveal developing a regional level CO2 storage risk Cruz), Wen-fai Fong (Northwestern) IMAGE that the FRBs found near the spiral arms do assessment atlas for North America in PROCESSING: Alyssa Pagan (STScI) not come from the very brightest regions, collaboration with consultancy firm Canadian which blaze with the light from hefty stars. The Discovery Ltd. Locating where these blasts are coming from, images help support a picture that the FRBs The atlas, explicitly designed for use as a and in particular, what galaxies they originate likely do not originate from the youngest, screening and assessment tool for subsurface from, is important in determining what kinds most massive stars. carbon storage sites, will consist of an of astronomical events trigger such intense interpretation data set delivered in a digital atlas flashes of energy. The new Hubble survey of These clues helped the researchers rule out format. Data will be visualized via TGS' user- eight FRBs helps researchers narrow the list some of the possible triggers of types of these friendly Pathfinder app for instant, interactive of possible FRB sources. brilliant flares, including the explosive deaths analysis of potential CCS hubs and subsurface of the youngest, most massive stars, which information to assess existing geologic generate gamma-ray bursts and some types Flash in the Night of supernovae. Another unlikely source is the resources potentially suitable for carbon The first FRB was discovered in archived storage. merger of neutron stars, the crushed cores of data recorded by the Parkes radio stars that end their lives in supernova “Carbon capture and storage technology is observatory on July 24, 2001. Since then critical for meeting climate targets. Storing CO2 explosions. These mergers take billions of astronomers have uncovered up to 1,000 years to occur and are usually found far from in deep underground formations in a safe, FRBs, but they have only been able to secure and permanent fashion requires a the spiral arms of older galaxies that are no associate roughly 15 of them to particular longer forming stars. thorough understanding of subsurface galaxies. complexities and associated risks. TGS is “Our results are new and exciting. This is the uniquely positioned to develop this assessment first high-resolution view of a population of TGS and Halliburton tool by leveraging its comprehensive FRBs, and Hubble reveals that five of them Collaborate to Advance subsurface data and knowledge”, stated Katja are localized near or on a galaxy's spiral Akentieva, Vice President of TGS New Energy arms,” said Alexandra Mannings of the Seismic Reservoir Solutions for the Western Hemisphere. University of California, Santa Cruz, the Monitoring The digital atlas data will include consistent study's lead author. “Most of the galaxies are volumetrics with risk and confidence massive, relatively young, and still forming assessments and prospect ranking based on stars. The imaging allows us to get a better Halliburton Company and TGS-NOPEC various criteria, along with supporting data idea of the overall host-galaxy properties, Geophysical ASA announced a collaboration appendices. The first phase of the atlas project such as its mass and star-formation rate, as to bring advanced seismic imaging to fiber will focus on Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and well as probe what's happening right at the optic sensing. The alliance will provide depleted reservoirs in the US onshore Gulf FRB position because Hubble has such great operators with advanced insight to determine Coast region and will be available in Q3, 2021. resolution.” their reservoir potential for oil and gas The TGS data library holds over 9 million well production or carbon storage. The Halliburton logs, including Analytics Ready LAS products. In the Hubble study, astronomers not only FiberVSP™ and Odassea™ distributed Onshore interpretation products include 19 key pinned all of them to host galaxies, but they acoustic sensing solutions will now basins covered by Basin Temperature Models also identified the kinds of locations they incorporate TGS's seismic imaging (BTMs) and have over 1 million hand- originated from. Hubble observed one of the workflows that process the entire seismic interpreted formation tops. FRB locations in 2017 and the other seven in wavefield to generate high-resolution 2019 and 2020. reservoir images. Hubble Tracks Down Fast “We don't know what causes FRBs, so it's really important to use context when we have “We are excited to transform vertical seismic Radio Bursts to Galaxies' it,” said team member Wen-fai Fong of profiling to a full-field, digital, and Spiral Arms Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. intervention-less surveillance solution,” said “This technique has worked very well for Trey Clark, vice president of Wireline and identifying the progenitors of other types of Perforating. “Through our collaboration with Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space transients, such as supernovae and gamma- TGS, we can now enable real-time Telescope have traced the locations of five brief, ray bursts. Hubble played a big role in those monitoring of production across an entire powerful radio blasts to the spiral arms of five studies, too.” field, allowing our customers to make better distant galaxies. decisions and increase ultimate recovery.” The galaxies in the Hubble study existed “This solution enables enhanced reservoir Called fast radio bursts (FRBs), these billions of years ago. Astronomers, therefore, understanding for our customers with a lower extraordinary events generate as much energy are seeing the galaxies as they appeared total cost of ownership relative to in a thousandth of a second as the Sun does in a when the universe was about half its current conventional 4D seismic,” said Jan year. Because these transient radio pulses age. Schoolmeesters, executive vice president of disappear in much less than the blink of an eye, TGS Operations and New Energy Solutions. researchers have had a hard time tracking Many of them are as massive as our Milky “We've leveraged the competencies and down where they come from, much less Way. The observations were made in know-how of both organizations to drive the determining what kind of object or objects is ultraviolet and near-infrared light with change our industry needs for proactive causing them. Therefore, most of the time, Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3. reservoir management. For TGS, this astronomers don't know exactly where to look. Ultraviolet light traces the glow of young stars collaboration meets our strategic initiatives to Astronomers using the Hubble Space strung along a spiral galaxy's winding arms. increase our focus on technology and mature Telescope have tracked down two brief, The researchers used the near-infrared basins, capture more repeatable business, powerful radio bursts to the spiral arms of the images to calculate the galaxies' mass and and offer customers cost efficient new energy two galaxies shown above. The two images at find where older populations of stars reside. solutions like carbon storage monitoring.” left show the full Hubble snapshots of each Work is underway to deliver this combined galaxy. The two digitally enhanced images on solution for multiple onshore and offshore

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reservoir monitoring projects. based on survey responses from their the Earth, 36,000 km above sea level at the respective employees. equator. The fifth SBIRS is equipped with a Advanced intelligent “What a tribute it is to our great team members modern encryption system against cyber that we are recognized for the third consecutive attacks on it, which could paralyze the four old systems receives grant from year as one of the best places to work in the satellites More in the system in case of an B.C.'s innovative clean greater Washington, D.C. area,” said John attack. Ratigan, president of iDirect Government. “We The satellite is also the first of its kind that energy fund pride ourselves on hiring smart people who Lockheed Martin calls Combat Bus. These bring their unique talents to the team to drive satellites include improved propulsion and Advanced Intelligent Systems, a leading excellence in creating the utmost reliable electronics systems, as well as a flexible custom robotics company that creates practical SATCOM solutions for our military, homeland design that allows for quick installation and robots, announced today it has been selected to security, first responder and other government upgrade of the sensors in the future – receive $950,000 from the B.C. government's users.” depending on the update of threats on the Innovative Clean Energy Fund, for its iDirectGov employees are all U.S. citizens, with ground. It should be noted that this design will commercialization of its driverless battery- a third being U.S. military veterans and more be used by Lockheed Martin also from 2026, driven cart-pulling system for the horticultural than 60% holding U.S. security clearances. with the launch of the next generation of GPS and agricultural industries. “Our employees are the hallmark of our satellite, the global satellite navigation system “We are greatly honoured and privileged that operations and enjoy a healthy work-life of the US military – which we, the Israelis, also Advanced Intelligent Systems has been balance,” Ratigan said. “Recently, thanks to use every day. selected to receive funding from the Innovative obtaining and retaining the best employees, we Clean Energy (ICE) Fund. The ICE grant has delivered software with the most advanced been presented to us for the innovation of our security features available to the government NBA, Viasat to make NBA driverless battery-driven cart-pulling system for SATCOM market, including information league pass available to outdoor on-site transportation of carts and assurance (IA) and signal excision technology. wagons in a plant nursery. Our technology will It's exciting endeavors such as this that our millions of airline help reduce carbon emissions and automate dedicated team members thrive on and make passengers while in flight repetitive and labor-intensive tasks in industries iDirectGov a great place to work.” such as horticulture,” says Afshin Doust, CEO of The honorees were announced at a virtual AIS. ceremony on May 20 and are listed on the The National Basketball Association and The need for labour in the horticulture industry Washington Business Journal Lists. Viasat Inc, a global communications company has been steadily climbing, however, finding This award recognition adds to iDirect and leading in-flight connectivity provider to workers to perform the repetitive and physically Government's 2021 Innovation Award for many of the world's most recognizable airlines, demanding tasks in nurseries and greenhouses Cyber TechNorthern Virginia Chamber of today announced a groundbreaking multi-year operations is extremely challenging. AIS' Commerce award recognizes iDirectGov's partnership to make NBA League Pass, the autonomous technology – with customizable ingenuity with its Communication Signal league's premium live game subscription software and modular parts – provides the Interference Removal (CSIR™) technology service, available to millions of airline industry with an affordable solution. AIS's that helps the military to carry out its missions passengers while in flight. The partnership will technology helps reduce worker injuries by anywhere in the world they are located. provide a streaming experience in the sky, automating repetitive and labour-intensive iDirectGov was honored with this award win at enabling airline passengers to access live and tasks in the horticulture industry, while the Mid-Atlantic Innovation Celebration on-demand NBA games and content on their contributing to B.C.'s emission reduction goals. ceremony on May 6. personal electronic devices at no extra cost Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and when they register for NBA League Pass in- Low Carbon Innovation says AIS' projects Iron Dome from Space: US flight. JetBlue will be one of the first airlines to showcase the value of new and innovative offer NBA League Pass on Viasat-equipped clean energy products. Navy launches $ 1 billion aircraft, with additional airlines expected to be “Through Clean BC, we are supporting made- missile alert satellite announced. in-B.C. innovations that will help grow our world- leading cleantech sector and create good Available during the 2021 NBA Playoffs, which The US Navy has launched an early missile jobs,”said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, will tip off Saturday, May 22, Viasat will enable alert satellite. The new, $ 1 billion satellite was Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. access to the premium version of NBA League launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on the Since 2008, the ICE Fund has committed $104 Pass – featuring every NBA game live and on- United Launch Alliance's Atlas 5 launcher. This million to support pre-commercial clean energy demand – to passengers onboard aircraft with is the fifth and most sophisticated satellite of its technology projects, clean energy vehicles, Viasat In-flight connectivity. NBA League Pass kind in the Space Based Infrared System, or research and development and energy will be available on any route, except for flights SBIRS, designed to detect heat emissions from efficiency programs, according to the B.C. within the U.S., Canada and China; ballistic missile launches in the infrared of light government. The funding is derived from a levy international flights to and from these three – and to give early warning of such a launch to on the final sale of specified energy products – countries will also have access to the service. the US and its allies. Along with the SBIRS currently natural gas, fuel oil and propane “We are thrilled to provide fans around the satellite, the main payload, the Atlas 5 launcher distribution systems. world with the unique opportunity to experience last night also carried two small cube satellites, the excitement of the NBA on their personal designed to provide covert technological devices while in-flight at 35,000 feet,” said NBA iDirect Government Wins demonstrations to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Senior Vice President, Global Media Washington Business Distribution and Business Operations, Matt Cyber ?and missiles: Prepare Brabants. “By leveraging Viasat's world-class Journal's 'Best Places to satellite technology and global reach, we Work' Honors for Third for a combined attack believe this partnership will transform the Unlike steep-track missiles, like the Qassam for future of content consumption for airline Consecutive Year example, ballistic missiles are missiles whose passengers and allow us to engage millions of most of the trajectory takes place in space, that new and existing NBA fans in a whole new iDirect Government, a leading provider of is, above the Kerman line at least 100 km above way.” satellite communications to the military and sea level – like Iran's intercontinental ballistic government, today announced that for the third missiles. With tremendous heat emissions “We're focused on evolving the way consecutive year, it was named the Washington during launch, accompanied by a unique passengers enjoy in-flight internet by offering Business Journal's Best Places to Work for the signature of infrared light, which can be differentiated, premium over-the-top content large company category. The WBJ received from space. and streaming experiences,” said Viasat acknowledges the top 100 Greater Washington, The new satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, will Managing Director, Media & Mobile D.C. companies for their workplace excellence independently enter a government orbit around Applications, Dave Elliot. “We continue to 35 IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

explore and announce new partnerships, like the collaboration with video easy and accessible “We would like to continue the excellent and NBA. The trend to market content – and in this for every employee. long-standing cooperation in the field of case, league assets – directly to customers is The demands of distributed workforces have aviation research and add other topics, for powerful, and offers more opportunity to drive presented new challenges for teams — example mobility and energy,” says Prof. customer acquisition through new business attention spans are fragmented, and Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, Chairwoman of the models that haven't been previously offered information is often scattered across intranets, DLR Executive Board, “NRC is an important through packaged, linear TV viewing.” chats, email chains or buried in one-off and strategic international partner.” NBA League Pass provides the most meeting recordings. Video is proven to Prof. Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla and NRC comprehensive live and on-demand access to an streamline communication and improve President Mitch Davies presented the new entire season of NBA games in high-definition knowledge sharing, with research showing agreement at a virtual event. The occasion with live stats, alternative audio and multiple that employees are 70% more likely to rate was 50th anniversary the German-Canadian viewing options. Passengers on NBA League productivity highly when their company uses scientific and technological cooperation. As a Pass-enabled flights will be able to use the speed video to communicate. government agency, the NRC supports and efficiency of Viasat's global satellite network Video Library centralizes video content in one industrial as well as scientific research in to access NBA platforms, create or sign into an searchable hub and unlocks access to Canada. existing NBA account, and immediately access powerful, simple video tools so every League Pass's Next-Generation game viewing employee can easily create and share content enhancements, including new camera angles, across departments. All live and pre-recorded Blue Amazon Research multiple in-language streams, celebrity videos are automatically transcribed and Network is presented to the influencer commentary, in-depth analytics and easily searchable, so team members can find statistical graphics and condensed games for on- relevant content quickly— from new hire Brazilian Space Agency demand viewing. training videos to Zoom recordings to how-to Viasat serves the world's leading airlines, videos— saving employees up to an hour per Blue Amazon Research Network is a elevating the passenger journey with a network day in time previously spent looking for critical multidisciplinary network intends to articulate that is built to support the rising data information. academia, industry and government to join requirements of the latest internet, streaming and “With the shift to hybrid work environments, efforts in favor of the sustainable over-the-top trends, even at 35,000 feet. The video has become a requirement for modern development of the Brazilian Equatorial Company currently has an international satellite business communication. But even the world's Margin. network consisting of owned and partner high- largest companies are struggling to be video- The board of the Brazilian Space Agency capacity Ka-band satellites to deliver high- first: creating video is expensive and takes too (AEB) met with academics from various parts quality, fast connectivity – even in the hardest-to- long, content is locked on hard drives or on of the country to learn about the Amazon Blue reach places. disparate cloud services, and there is no Research Network, which aims to study the branded, beautiful experience that unites all Brazilian Equatorial Margin. The meeting took that content for employees to search and Comtech p l a c e l a s t F r i d a y ( 1 4 ) , t h r o u g h engage with across teams,” said Mark Kornfilt, videoconference. Telecommunications Corp. President & Chief Product Officer of Vimeo. The area known as “Blue Amazon” comprises “Vimeo uniquely solves this. We built Video Awarded Order to Provide a maritime strip of approximately 3 and a half Library to help every company accelerate their million km², which concentrates a rich Rugged Baseband digital transformation and meet the needs of biodiversity and represents a strategic the future workforce.” Equipment economic potential for Brazil. Fortune 100/500 companies across The region concentrates the ocean's pre-salt technology, retail, and business service reserves, from which about 85% of oil, 75% of Comtech Telecommunications Corp., a world sectors have been using the beta version of natural gas and 45% of fish produced in the leader in secure wireless communications Video Library to better connect their global country are extracted. It represents the technologies, announced that during its third workforces. Rainar Aasrand AV Engineer at outflow of more than 95% of Brazilian foreign quarter of fiscal 2021, its Government Solutions Wise said, “Being able to present and store trade. segment was awarded an order worth videos and live streams on a branded, Netflix- approximately $2.0 million to provide the U.S. like homepage allows us to deliver important It received the name of Blue Amazon because Marine Corps with command and control messages in a way that captivates our team its size is almost equivalent to that of the modules for Program Manager Light Armored and makes it easy to find relevant content fast.” Amazon Forest, which is present in much of Vehicles. “Vimeo's video library makes training exciting, our country. “This order places our rugged baseband easy, and intuitive. Organizing our training The president of AEB, Carlos Moura, products with the U.S. Marine Corps soldiers that videos by teams or topics — all quickly accompanied by the board, attended the need them,” said Fred Kornberg, Chairman of the searchable and on a stunning branded presentation led by one of the creators of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Comtech homepage — helps us shorten ramp up time project, Allan Kardec Duailibe, professor at Telecommunications Corp. and connect with teams at scale, and the sub- the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA). Comtech Telecommunications Corp. is a leader folders have made it so much easier for our Also present were: Alberto Garcia Júnior, in the global communications market team to collaborate and stay organized,” said from Universidade Federal Fluminense headquartered in Melville, New York. With a Steve Hamaday, Virtual Training Manager at (UFF); André Barreto, from the University of passion for customer success, Comtech Axalta. Vale do Itajaí (Univali); Audálio Rebelo Júnior, designs, produces and markets advanced from UFMA; Cleverson Silva, from UFF; João secure wireless solutions to more than 1,000 DLR strengthened Luís Pizzorno, from Ecology Brasil; Andréia customers in more than 100 countries. cooperation with Canadian Lobo; and João Carlos Corrêa. All members of the research network. Vimeo's new corporate video research institutions library keeps teams Telesat and TIM Brasil connected Germany and Canada have been working Partner for First-of-its-Kind together successfully in science and technology for five decades – new LEO Test in Brazil Vimeo, the world's leading all-in-one video partnerships have now been sealed. The solution, today introduced video library, the latest German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Mobile performance tests over Telesat's evolution in workplace communication. Video National Research Council Canada (NRC) Phase 1 LEO satellite validate the potential Library is a centralized, secure hub designed to signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The for Telesat Lightspeed to connect remote make creation, communication, and declaration is valid for seven years. communities in Brazil. Telesat, one of the

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world's most innovative global satellite satellites that will begin launching in carriers mounted on the Centaur CubeSat operators, and TIM Brasil, the leader in 4G approximately two years will be more capable Express Aft Bulkhead Carrier. The two MSVs were coverage in the country, today announced and sophisticated, Telesat's Phase 1 LEO successfully released shortly after completion of the completion of on-orbit testing across satellite provides an excellent opportunity to the first Centaur burn, prior to the deployment of several applications with Telesat's Phase 1 effectively demonstrate how various the SBIRS space vehicle. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite. applications perform over LEO and will The launch, originally scheduled for May 17, was This first-of-its-kind LEO backhaul testing in ultimately be supported by the full Telesat delayed one day to allow the launch team to Brazil was conducted with TIM Brasil's Lightspeed network. address a concern with the liquid oxygen ground Innovation Department staff at their state-of- system that arose during the original launch the-art teleport in Rio de Janeiro, leveraging attempt. This launch marked the 87th successful an 85 cm Intellian parabolic antenna to uplink New NASA Earth System launch of an Atlas V rocket, the 144th launch for and downlink to the LEO satellite. Observatory to Help United Launch Alliance (ULA), the fourth 421 configuration vehicle and the first Atlas V mission Throughout the 5-day testing campaign, the Address, Mitigate Climate in 2021. teams measured 4G mobile data traffic Change A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket performance over LEO, achieving an carrying the SBIRS GEO Flight 5 mission for the average 38ms round trip latency. All NASA will design a new set of Earth-focused U.S Space Force's Space and Missile Systems applications tested ran efficiently without missions to provide key information to guide Center lifts off from Space Launch Complex-41 on interference, fading or performance breaks efforts related to climate change, disaster May 18 at 1:37 p.m. EDT. Photo Credit: United throughout the tests, including 1080p mitigation, fighting forest fires, and improving Launch Alliance Yo u Tu b e v i d e o s t r e a m i n g , v i d e o real-time agricultural processes. With the Earth As with prior National Security Space missions, conferencing, WhatsApp voice over LTE and System Observatory, each satellite will be Aerospace personnel conducted independent interface compatibility. uniquely designed to complement the others, analyses and evaluations of the flight systems, working in tandem to create a 3D, holistic view working with the USSF to augment United Launch The resulting low latency represents a of Earth, from bedrock to atmosphere. Alliance's mission assurance process to ensure compelling opportunity for operators like TIM “I've seen firsthand the impact of hurricanes the continued National Security Space Launch Brasil to expand their mobile and Internet made more intense and destructive by climate program's legacy of 100% mission success. services. Brazil has very good 4G coverage change, like Maria and Irma. The Biden-Harris Special attention was placed on first flight in population centers, but remote Administration's response to climate change hardware items implemented for performance communities usually cannot cost-effectively matches the magnitude of the threat: a whole of improvements and/or cost savings. The efforts be connected to the core network through government, all hands-on-deck approach to included close engagement with ULA to close out fibre or additional cell towers due to long meet this moment,” said NASA Administrator several late breaking issues that delayed the roll to distances and difficult terrain. These tests Sen. Bill Nelson. “Over the past three decades, pad and booster fuel loading operations by one highlight how Telesat Lightspeed can bring much of what we've learned about the Earth's day, to May 15. multiple Gbps of affordable, high- changing climate is built on NASA satellite “My sincere thanks to our SMC and Aerospace performance backhaul connectivity to observations and research. NASA's new Earth teammates for your commitment to make the connect many underserved regions and System Observatory will expand that work, SBIRS GEO-5 launch a success!” Col Erin reduce the digital divide in Brazil. providing the world with an unprecedented Gulden, Mission Director for the Atlas V SBIRS With its innovative DNA, TIM Brasil is understanding of our Earth's climate system, GEO-5 mission and Launch Enterprise chief of the committed to achieving 100% 4G network arming us with next-generation data critical to Atlas V and Delta IV Division at the U.S. Space coverage by 2023 and has been a leader in mitigating climate change, and protecting our Force's Space and Missile Systems Center, said 5G testing in Brazil, even before the communities in the face of natural disasters.” of the team's effort. “Your diligence culminated in technology became a reality in the country. To The observatory follows recommendations the delivery of a vital missile warning and this end, the operator opened its innovation from the 2017 Earth Science Decadal Survey by situational awareness satellite and showcased laboratory, TIM Lab, in 2019 to test new the National Academies of Sciences, flexible satellite integration and rapid technologies for its next-generation mobile Engineering and Medicine, which lays out responsiveness with the on-orbit insertion of the networks. ambitious but critically necessary research and EZ-3 and EZ-4 payloads. Excellence isn't observation guidance. achieved by accident. It is the result of setting high “Coverage and network reliability are expectations and relentlessly pursing precision critically important to mobile customers, execution. Thank you for your unwavering which can be challenging to deliver in a Atlas V launch delivers fifth commitment to excellence, outstanding country as large as Brazil,” said Mauro satellite to space based teamwork, and selfless service to a grateful Wajnberg, General Manager, Telesat Brasil. nation.” “Telesat Lightspeed backhaul connectivity infrared system will be transformative for Mobile Network constellation Brazil's latest webinar Operators like TIM Brasil, who are seeking cost-effective, enterprise-grade backhaul explores the importance of solutions to affordably connect all potential An Atlas V launch vehicle lifted off from Space space for the development of subscribers, no matter where they live.” Launch Complex 41 on May 18 and “Through this testing program, we believe successfully delivered the fifth Space Based a nation Telesat Lightspeed is a promising technology Infrared System (SBIRS) Geosynchronous to expand the geographic reach of our Earth Orbit (GEO-5) satellite to orbit. The In a virtual event held on May 20, the president of 4G/LTE and 5G networks,” said Silmar SBIRS constellation provides global persistent, the Brazilian Space Agency, Carlos Moura, Palmeira, Director of Architecture, Innovation infrared surveillance in support of four national demonstrated how investments in aerospace and Technology at TIM Brasil. “Telesat's security mission areas: Missile Warning, Missile policy can bring growth, both economic and in Phase 1 LEO satellite performance delivered Defense, Technical Intelligence and quality of life, for the population of a country. He mobile experiences comparable to our Battlespace Awareness. The GEO-5 satellite is was accompanied by the president of the terrestrial networks and we believe Telesat the first military satellite built on the Lockheed Association of Aerospace Industries of Brazil Lightspeed, with a mobile-optimized Martin modernized 2100 Combat Bus. All five (AIAB), Júlio Shidara, recently re-elected for a hardware ecosystem, has the potential to SBIRS satellites have been launched on United new mandate at the head of the institution, and the become a core component in our future Launch Alliance Atlas V rockets. coordinator of the Aerospace Engineering course infrastructure.” The mission also included two 12U Multi- at the Federal University of Santa Catarina Manifest Satellite Vehicles (MSVs), EZ-3 and - (UFSC), Rafael Cuenca. The moderation was in Though the Telesat Lightspeed production 4, provided by the U.S. Air Force Academy, charge of Emerson Granemann, founder and which were carried in integrated multi-manifest 37 IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

CEO of MundoGEO. professionals. The university has already had “At HughesNet, we believe it's absolutely When giving a presentation on “The partnerships for the use of technologies for essential for young people to have access to Brazilian Space Program – Integration tool space use, including in nanosatellites, both STEM education no matter where they live,” and vector of development”, Carlos Moura national and international. FloripaSat-1, said Peter Gulla, senior vice president at stressed how much we depend on space launched in December 2019, was developed by Hughes. “This award speaks volumes to the systems for contemporary life and the students at UFSC. “Today, in our course, we progress we have made, together with 4-H, in possibilities of investing in the aerospace have the advantage of having professionals expanding STEM access at a time when area. He cited markets that deal with who work in the space area. The university is maintaining the quality of the next generation's sustainability and depend on the always open, and our faculty has the education, especially in subject areas like infrastructure provided by space systems, characteristic of making this interaction with STEM, is among our highest priorities.” such as the agricultural sector, the society and with the market, to help foster our m o n i t o r i n g o f n a t u r a l d i s a s t e r s , space area ”, said Rafael. Here's what this year's Steve Awards judges deforestation and the generation of clean had to say about the HughesNet and 4-H energy. The president of the Association of Aerospace program, which was recognized in the “We are in an opportune moment to increase Industries of Brazil (AIAB), Júlio Shidara, made Corporate Social Responsibility Program of investments in the space sector. The it clear that investments in space are important the Year category in the 2021 American example of the Equatorial company, to reduce dependence on foreign services, a Business Awards®: responsible for the distribution of electricity trend that has occurred in several places around “What stood out was how HughesNet pivoted in Maranhão, is striking: within the the world, with countries building their own during the pandemic to provide much needed mandatory limit of investing 1% of its infrastructure of satellites. Júlio Shidara also online access to quality STEM education for revenue in research and development, it will highlighted the emblematic example of the c h i l d r e n a n d t h e i r f a m i l i e s . ” invest in the installation of a micro-network emergence of the aerospace industry in São “A great CSR initiative to promote STEM with alternative energy sources for the José dos Campos: the circumstances that led to education during the pandemic for children. Alcântara Spaceport . And the main supplier the development, by CTA, of the Bandeirante Online educational activities are extremely will be a national icon company, WEG ”, aircraft, and the important decision to create important to maintain the learning curve of our revealed Moura. “Thus, a company that is Embraer. “We are fortunate to have, in our youth. not specifically in the space sector, now country, this successful case to encourage us to “Jaw-droppingly useful, audience-centric, enters the activity in support of the space invest in the aerospace sector. Bandeirante was engaging content delivered in a simple, easy- infrastructure – highly demanding of quality the seed that made Embraer the third largest to-navigate style with can-do copywriting! I and reliability – after seeing an existing manufacturer of commercial jets in the world ”, want to share this with every family I know. opportunity in the market,” he added. said Júlio. What a considered and considerate These views, complemented by responses to application of corporate strengths to social In terms of integration, through the public inquiries, have enriched the responsibility. The result is a true partnership G e o s t a t i o n a r y D e f e n s e a n d understanding that, in fact, Brazil needs to between Hughes Network Systems and 4-H, Communications Satellite, suitable for civil advance in the sustainable and sovereign use of but the real winners are the kids and and defense communications (SGDC 1), its space infrastructure. communities that are better for such great about 2,800 municipalities now have access information. to the internet. So far, more than 12 HughesNet Receives Silver thousand points have been installed, of “A passion for STEM starts at an early age by which 9 thousand were in schools, reaching Stevie® Award in 2021 creating that spark and excitement for a young around 2.5 million students. In the rural American Business person that happens through hands-on sector, only 25% of the country currently has activities,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, president internet connection coverage. The estimate Awards® and CEO, National 4-H Council. “When presented in the webinar is that, if Brazil COVID-19 surged, STEM subjects were obtains a coverage of 48% in its total area, it Hughes Network Systems, an innovator in among the hardest to teach virtually due to could increase the gross value of the satellite technologies and networks for 50 years, their innate hands-on and interactive nature. production by R $ 101 billion, according to a announced today that it has won a Silver Through HughesNet's support we were able to study by the School of Administration Stevie® Award for its HughesNet® corporate create the 4-H at Home platform and reach (ESAF). social responsibility initiative with National 4-H young people with innovative hybrid learning Council to develop STEM-centric educational that involves online and hands-on The need for greater investments in the programming for 4-H at Home. The standout components. We are excited to continue aerospace area was also presented as a program from HughesNet, the leading satellite innovating with our hybrid learning model way to mitigate natural disasters. The Internet service, and 4-H, America's largest setting the stage for new best practices in cyclone bomb that occurred in Santa youth development organization, is designed to positive youth development. Catarina in June 2020, causing a series of inspire and educate the next generation of losses to the population, the economy and Science, Technology, Engineering and Since 2014, Hughes has worked with 4-H to the state's infrastructure, could have been Mathematics (STEM) leaders through hands-on help inspire young people's interest in STEM predicted earlier and with better mitigation of learning through engaging, high-quality educational impacts, through the use of space content and STEM-focused initiatives. In technology. . Other events, such as When the demand for quality, at-home learning addition to supporting STEM Lab, HughesNet deforestation and fires, can be minimized resources skyrocketed due to the COVID-19 is the annual sponsor of the 4-H Youth in Action with monitoring via optical systems, in the pandemic, Hughes and 4-H quickly mobilized to STEM Pillar Award, which this year recognized SWIR (short wave infrared) range, and with expand the HughesNet-sponsored STEM Lab Aidan Spencer of Oklahoma for his ardent radar systems ( Synthetic Aperture Radar – and to launch 4-H Home, a free online platform advocacy of STEM education in his SAR). By aggregating the broad possibilities of over 500 interactive educational activities that community of imaging, they can provide more complete all young people can access from home. As a and up-to-date information for decision result, 4-H's year-over-year portal traffic surged The American Business Awards are the United makers and law enforcement officials. to 300%, and 4-H at Home activity downloads States' premier business awards program. All grew by 65%, enabling hundreds of thousands organizations operating in the U.S. are eligible The coordinator of the Aerospace of youth to supplement their virtual instruction to submit nominations – public and private, for- Engineering Course at UFSC, Rafael with activities such as Solar S'mores, DIY profit and non-profit, large and small. Cuenca, spoke about the importance of the Flashlight, and Wonderful Westlands. practical part in the training of good

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Brazilian Space Agency acquired at IFMA. Naval Technology Exercise integrates inter-ministerial The authorities also participate in the delegation, which inauguration of the Institutional Base of Viasat, a global communications company, Alcântara (BIA), created by the Federal showcased its ability to enable resilient and participates in deliveries of University of Maranhão (UFMA). The actions tactical cloud-based communications during the federal government in proposed for the BIA provide for the the Naval Integration in Contested development of distance learning Environments (NICE) Advanced Naval Alcântara (MA) undergraduate courses, specialization and Technology Exercise (ANTX) from April 5-15, improvement to train and train human 2021, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The resources. The goal is to meet the NICE ANTX event, led by the Naval Research & The president of the Brazilian Space Agency, development of the region and train Development Enterprise (NR&DE), invited Carlos Moura, is one of the members of the manpower to meet the demands of the organizations from across industry, academia interministerial delegation, which is in the Alcântara Space Center. BIA is the result of a and government R&D to demonstrate emerging municipality of Alcântara, in Maranhão, to partnership between UFMA, the Instituto technologies that could be leveraged by the participate in deliveries from the federal Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA) and the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps in support of government to the population of Alcantarense. Alcântara Launch Center (CLA). The actions Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations The group is formed by the ministers of are coordinated by the Ministry of Education (EABO) and Littoral Operations in Contested Science, Technology and Innovations, (MEC). Environments (LOCE). astronaut Marcos Pontes; Education, Milton During the exercise, Viasat proved methods to Ribeiro; and Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, The Cajueiro community was another place increase network capacity and resilience at the Tereza Cristina. The action also has the visited by the delegation. The community tactical edge, improving Situational Awareness support of local institutions, such as the represents the seven agrovillages that benefit (SA) and enabling advanced battlespace Federation of Industries of Maranhão (FIEMA), from the installation of broadband internet applications. Viasat demonstrated its ability to: Social Service of Industry (SESI), National promoted by the Electronic Government – Enable secure ship-to-shore communications Service of Industrial Learning (SENAI), Citizen Service Service (Gesac) program, in a littoral environment; Brazilian Service of Support to Micro and Small developed by Telebrás, a company linked to Rapidly employ and manage agile Companies (SEBRAE), in addition to support the Ministry of Communications. The action of communication nodes at all echelons, allowing from the Alcântara city hall. the federal government, financed by the access to the tactical cloud; It is a series of events that took place today Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply Enable Electronic Warfare Operations across (26). From the inauguration of an innovation (MAPA), offers free internet connection distributed systems with Office of Naval factory created by the Federal Institute of through the Geostationary Defense and Research ENDOR Future Naval Capability Maranhão (IFMA) to the installation of free Communications Satellite. The promotion of (FNC) and Viasat NetAgility™; internet for the villages, located near the digital inclusion throughout the Brazilian Provide dismounted leaders access to Alcântara Spaceport. Carlos Moura highlights territory is one of the objectives of the information and networks critical to maintain the importance of joint action for the population program. In the same place, SENAI and SESI situational awareness; and of Alcântara and for the Brazilian Space Itinerante will be carrying out social, health Implement an automated Primary, Alternate, Program. “It is extremely important that actions and science popularization activities for the Contingency, and Emergency (PACE) plan for like these are done more and more frequently. population of the villages in the region. increased resiliency, transport bonding There is no point in developing space activities orchestration, and management across all and not bringing the benefits generated by A visit to the Launch Tower of the Alcântara network nodes these activities to the people who live in the Space Center (CEA) was also part of the region ”, he highlights. agenda of the interministerial delegation. The “The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps understand infrastructure currently available for launching the importance of exploring technological The actions are the result of the work of the space artifacts was presented, in addition to innovations that can support critical operations Integrated Development Commission for the providing information about the plans, in difficult contested environments,” said Craig Alcântara Space Center (CDI-CEA). Several projects and programs related to the Miller, president, Government Systems, Viasat. ministries participate in the CDI-CEA commercial operation of the Alcântara “At NICE ANTX, we demonstrated a diverse set meetings, with the aim of developing the Spaceport. of communication advancements—in an Alcântara region. According to Marcos Pontes, The 8th Ordinary Meeting of the Plenary environment of emerging cyber and electronic this is an important opportunity for ministers to Meeting of the Integrated Development warfare threats—and augmented existing get to know the place that will receive the Commission for the Alcântara Space Center military communication networks, tailored benefits generated by the development of the (CDI-CEA) closed the day of activities. The command and control capabilities at the tactical Brazilian Space Program. “We are developing interministerial commission, chaired by MCTI edge and provided advanced methods to the region, but always with the concern to minister, Marcos Pontes, and coordinated by deliver reliable, uninterrupted broadband involve companies and local labor being AEB's Space Sector Governance director, connectivity through an enhanced on-the-move employed in this movement”, he highlighted. Cristiano Trein, was instituted by Decree No. communications platform.” The Innovations Factory of the Federal 10,458. Its objective is to formulate the Institute of Maranhão (IFMA), coordinated by Integrated Development Program for the Viasat demonstrated resilient ship-to-shore the Ministry of Education (MEC), was Alcântara Space Center (PDI-CEA), to communications leveraging its Expeditionary inaugurated on the institute's Alcântara propose institutional and technological Lightweight Integrated Tactical Edge (ELITE) kit campus, created years ago to work on the mechanisms that enable its implementation, and its roll-on/roll-off prototype G-18 Ku/Ka- qualification of local labor, who can work in to monitor the execution of the PDI-CEA and band antenna to provide assured, satellite activities resulting from the development of to generate subsidies for its consolidation, in communications-on-the-move capability for space activities. The main objective of the site addition to coordinate government initiatives maritime and ground-based platforms, allowing is to provide innovative services to the related to the development of the space a commander to tailor their command and community. After the survey of real problems, center. control (C2) capabilities to the mobility needs of the factory applies scientific techniques for the the operation. Viasat also showed its technological solution of these problems. The NetAgility™ Mobile Software Defined proposal is to integrate teaching, research and Viasat Demonstrated High- Networking (SDN) router, enabling greater extension into the students' daily lives, making Capability Expeditionary resiliency by bonding and aggregating multiple them strive to develop the entrepreneurial and communication pathways for automated traffic innovation aspect, based on the knowledge Communications at Recent routing from the Tactical Operations Center to

39 IN THE NEWS AMERICAS

Small Form Factor sensor integration. Finally, The United Nations Development Program out, it was also possible to make simulated Viasat showcased the C2 gateway capabilities of (UNDP) has been contributing, for more than visits to a planetarium, using the Zoom the ELITE kit by simulating Link 16 tracks and 50 years, to inclusive and sustainable growth, platform. Since 1998, at least 22 panelists disseminating them across all nodes in the continuously and on a democratic basis, have participated in 500 simulations per network and to all dismounted warfighters via always in partnership with the State, week, with an average of 30 to 40 students in multiple Direct Line of Sight (DLOS) radio links. organized civil society and the private sector. each. A total of 25 thousand participants since the beginning of the project. The record Brazilian Astronomy and of enrolled in this year's edition led Professor NASA's Rover Curiosity João Canalle to consider the possibility of photographed strange clouds Astronautics Olympiad has maintaining the option of a hybrid format for a record number of entries the next ones. “It will be very much at the on Mars discretion of the schools, but I believe that we in the 2021 edition must keep the format”, he added. It's not winter in the mountains of Eilat – it's Mars: This year's edition of the Brazilian Astronomy This image, which consists of 21 different and Astronautics Olympiad (OBA), held on 15 years ago, OBA created, within the photographs, was taken by the Rover Curiosity May 27 and 28, had a different format than Olympic program, the Brazilian Rocket over the Gale Crater on the red plannet. As is well previous years. The students took the tests Exhibition, MOBFOG. Space Journeys, known, Mars' atmosphere is only 1% of that of both in person and online. There were more Rocket Journeys, Space Camps and Earth. That is why Mars also has clouds, but they than 900 thousand subscribers, the highest Regional Astronomy Teaching Meetings are faint and very high, like the cirrus clouds in our number since the launch of OBA in 1998. Of (EREA) were also born. The latter, promoted home world, and they twinkle a little after sunset – these, approximately 450 thousand since 2009, has already trained more than like the night clouds in the earth's sky. participated through the digital format. More 10,000 teachers, visiting more than 80 So far the assumption has been that clouds on than two thousand cities were represented. At Brazilian cities. EREA is carried out through Mars are formed in summer, with the (relative) rise the same time, the Brazilian Rocket Exhibition regional partnerships and with funds in temperatures, but two years ago the Rover (MOBFOG) was also held, which celebrates obtained from CNPq. Curiosity was able to photograph clouds in Mars 15 years of existence. as early as May. Scientists at NASA have realized “We overcame the difficulties and we believe that the hidden prevails over the visible in the that we had a good performance with the Viasat to Deliver Enhanced Martian clouds, and this year ordered Rover to participation of more than ten thousand observe the sky as early as the end of winter. schools”, says the national coordinator of Military-Grade Encryption Mars did not disappoint, and the clouds you see OBA, professor João Batista Garcia Canalle. on the First-Ever Link 16- were photographed vigorously. The thin clouds The Brazilian Astronomy Olympiad has a are rich in ice water and scatter the sunlight in committee formed by members of the Capable Low Earth Orbit colors like red, green, blue and purple. But even Brazilian Astronomical Society (SAB) and the Spacecraft beyond the beautiful show, the new winter clouds Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), in addition to the support of the National Council for are inconsistent with what we know about the Viasat, a global communications company, Scientific and Technological Development weather on Mars. For example, summer clouds on today announced it will integrate its In-line (CNPq) and the Universidade Paulista (UNIP) Mars often hover about 60 kilometers above the Network Encryptor (INE) into the world's first . ground – while these clouds are much higher Link 16-capable low earth orbit (LEO) In this year's edition, in addition to applying (NASA did not specify the exact number). Frozen satellite, which Viasat is developing for the the tests in digital format, some schools carbon dioxide. U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory Space carried out the tests in person, following Vehicles XVI program. safety protocols, with social distance and Viasat's INE will be the first crypto appointment. The digital format was also deployment on a Link 16-capable LEO Brazilian Space Agency improved, with the improvement of the satellite, and will provide communications evidence management platform, MOBTEX. It initiates projects with the security (COMSEC) and additional enhanced is the same used by the National Science cybersecurity capabilities initially associated United Nations Development Olympiad, also available through an with mission data transfer, with future application. “Some schools asked for the Program (UNDP) evolutions expected to simultaneously change, as there are many students without secure user data; telemetry, tracking and access to the Internet, mainly in rural areas”, The first call for tenders for specialized technical command (TT&C) management; and inter- reveals Canalle. consultancy, resulting from the partnership satellite communications—at multiple In a video message sent to the enrolled between the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) and security levels. students, the president of the Brazilian Space the United Nations Development Program Viasat's INE, which was designed for a very Agency (AEB), Carlos Moura, stressed the (UNDP), was published on Sunday (05/30). The low Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) importance of the project to inspire new objective is to conquer more and more Brazil's constrained system, is expected to provide talents: “I am sure that you are motivated by autonomy in obtaining and processing data from radiation-tolerant network encryption aligned something extremely valuable, which is space systems, through satellite development with the LEO space environment and will be knowledge, opportunity to be challenged and projects with a payload equipped with a SAR – capable of supporting speeds exceeding 100 to learn more about technological activity, Synthetic Aperture Radar sensor . Megabits per second (Mbps) aggregate which allows us to make a better connection This is the first of other notices to be published in throughput, which makes it an outstanding with what we learn at school ”, he highlighted. 2021, continuing the process of development and encryptor to secure Link 16-to-LEO The first edition of the OBA took place in 1998, institutional strengthening of the Brazilian Space communications. The INE will also be able to with the aim of arousing interest in Astronomy. Program. The partnership with UNDP creates secure the data flow between an unclassified The tests are divided into four levels of new perspectives to leverage actions, develop spacecraft bus and the classified processing difficulty, with a duration of two hours for the projects and present society with increasingly domain. elementary level and three hours for the consistent results in the development of space “In addition to building and testing the first- medium level. In addition to the simulations activities. ever Link 16-capable LEO satellite prototype, within the OBA application itself, there was In December 2020, AEB signed a Cooperation Viasat is also focused on delivering the first also the launch of another application, called Agreement with UNDP, which aims to expand high assurance, fully-programmable crypto OBA SIMULADO, through which students results in the space segment. The space industry deployed in space,” said Craig Miller, were able to take tests of past editions. More deals with cutting-edge technology and a high president, Government Systems, Viasat. than 44 thousand downloads were made of density of innovation, and continuously seeks “Our focus is on revolutionizing space-based materials used in previous editions. resources and alternatives that provide growth for cryptographic and cybersecurity solutions by the Brazilian space sector. moving away from embedded, fixed single- Throughout the OBA editions already carried 40

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