Bringing Space Down to Earth

Global Agenda Bringing Space Down to Earth by the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Space Security March 2015 Industry Agenda Bringing Space Down to Earth World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2014 January 2014 Contents Introduction: Space matters 4 Communications satellites and the future telecoms ecosystem 8 Improving access to education with space technology 11 Space technology and healthcare 14 Precision agriculture and food security 17 Using space technology to protect human rights 20 Climate change and space 23 Space assets for Arctic governance 25 Sustainable management of forests, fisheries and water 27 How space technologies can help in disaster management 30 Nuclear security and satellites 33 Preparing for catastrophic risks from space 35 The challenge of the long-term sustainability of space activities 38 Conclusion 41 References 42 Endnotes 45 Acknowledgments 48 World Economic Forum® © 2015 – All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or Transmitted in any form or by any means, including Photocopying and recording, or by any information Storage and retrieval system. REF 160215 Industry Agenda Bringing Space Down to Earth World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2014 January 2014 Foreword Over the past five decades, space has been regarded as either the dream and future of humankind or a field of the Cold War space race. Neither view is relevant today. Although the competitive nature of technological achievement and the wish to explore space will never end, the most important role space serves today is as critical infrastructure for the world. This report, Bringing Space Down to Earth, demonstrates how important space is in our daily lives, particularly in times of crisis. It also shows why space – and society’s ability to use it – must be protected from natural and man-made hazards. Space is no longer a “big boys club”. Today, about 60 countries own and Kazuto Suzuki operate at least one satellite, and almost everyone benefits from the services Chair Global Agenda these satellites provide. Space has become an indispensable infrastructure on Council on Space which everyone relies. Security (2012-2014) Space capabilities provide information vital for the environment, education, food security, public health, water resource management, human rights, disaster relief and nuclear security. Space-derived services not only improve the efficiency and effectiveness of many terrestrial activities but also provide much of the information and understanding needed to prevent and mitigate a variety of risks. There are risks in space as well. As the importance of space increases, so too does the need to protect its assets and environment. These various hazards include space debris, radio frequency interference and space weather that can damage or destroy satellites or make operating in space more costly. Asteroids and massive solar storms could pose significant threats to life on Earth. The meteor that exploded over the Russian town of Chelyabinsk in 2013 is just one example. This report, a collective effort of the members of the Global Agenda Council on Space Security, highlights the key role that space plays in making the world safer, more secure and more prosperous. I recommend it to all those who are interested in improving the efficiency of their activities and security of their daily lives. It reminds us that space is not about space per se, but about humanity and the societies on our planet. It is time to bring space down to Earth. Bringing Space Down to Earth 3 Introduction: Space matters Snapshot billion.2 While commercial launch vehicle companies like SpaceX and Orbital Sciences are beginning to enter the With $314 billion in commercial revenue and government sector, the primary actors in space are, and shall for some spending in 2013, and an average annual growth rate time remain, governments. between 5% and nearly 8%, the space sector is one of the fastest growing in the world.1 But unlike in the past, space is not limited to the world’s superpowers. Today, about 60 countries have one or more Space assets serve as an economic multiplier and enabler of their own satellites, up from only 26 countries in 2001. for many other sectors, including air, ground and sea More governments are now viewing space as a worthwhile transportation, banking, telecommunications and internet investment that can ensure their national social, economic services, healthcare, agriculture and energy. and technological development and security. Services provided by satellite are essential for much of Small companies and even individuals have also become modern critical infrastructure and scientific activities, important parts of the global space economy. The such as water management systems (dams), electronic development of space tourism has injected new money power grids, weather prediction and disaster monitoring/ and fresh public attention into the space industry. Indeed, management, and climate change studies. Space-based a single private company, Virgin Galactic, has already systems are crucial for risk prediction and mitigation all collected paid deposits from more than 650 aspiring around the globe. astronauts. This dramatically eclipses the total number of humans who have been to space (fewer than 550) and Developing countries are increasingly seeking space represents more than $100 million in new revenue. The assets in their quest for sustainable economic and social lower price points and more frequent flight opportunities development. In particular, space activities contribute to offered by commercially-operated parabolic aircraft, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) reusable suborbital launch vehicles and orbital platforms education and thus to the development of a highly skilled such as CubeSats have encouraged new entrants to workforce. become involved in space for the first time. As a result, entities ranging from start-ups backed by venture capital Space programmes have provided technological spin- to successful R&D firms from adjacent industries are offs that have benefited civil society and the non-space becoming customers of aerospace transportation and commercial sector in many ways. manufacturing companies. On Earth, space matters. Secondary economic and development benefits The space economy Space has a positive economic impact on many markets, adding value through applications ranging The space sector is one of the fastest growing in the world, from telecommunications to earth observation. Both with average annual growth rates between 5% and nearly governments and private corporations benefit, as do users 8%. This growing sector supports an ever-increasing range in the biggest cities in the United States right through to of downstream products and services across multiple those in rural India. users and markets. It’s not just wealthy nations that are reaping the benefits: as global competitiveness expands A country’s first investments in space are often part and new satellite technologies become cheaper, developing of a larger national plan to improve information and countries are investing in space with the goal of expanding communications technology (ICT), infrastructure, agriculture their economies. and education ‒ all essential factors in a resilient economy that can drive sustainable development. In 2012, US government space spending on NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) These investments are driven by a long-term strategy of and the Department of Defense was $48 billion. Other progressive capability development, often not realized until governments spent $31 billion on their civil and military a space programme reaches its second or third generation. space organizations, with European nations spending Technology transfer also plays an essential role, as it allows $5.1 billion on the European Space Agency (ESA), Russia countries to develop their industry and technology base by spending $4.6 billion, Japan $4.4 billion, and China $3.1 gaining experience in satellite design, manufacturing and integration from experienced prime contractors. 4 Bringing Space Down to Earth In addition, as space programmes require a skilled different countries.5 An increasing number of these EO technical workforce, space agencies and governments satellites are being built and operated by private industry. therefore invest in education and outreach programmes in primary schools all the way through to universities, and Global navigation and positioning satellites often provide scholarships and internships to students to encourage them to enter the STEM fields. STEM education Space-based technologies have also revolutionized provides the advanced skills required for a competitive transportation and navigation capabilities, resulting in workforce that can generate economic growth. more efficient routes, improved safety records and lower operating costs. The key enabling technology is the Worldwide, the space sector directly employs an estimated Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), with the most 120,000 workers in OECD countries3 and 250,000 in prominent being the US Global Positioning System (GPS), Russia.4 It indirectly creates many more jobs, thanks to together with the Russian GLONASS, Europe’s Galileo, successful technology spin-offs. China’s Beidou, Japan’s QZSS and India’s IRNSS. These satellites have provided a flexible, accurate and low-cost Earth observation satellites method to track position, plan routes and more precisely time delivery/arrival

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