Page 44 - Life beyond the Karman

The suit also has an attachment that provides simplified aid for extravehicular activity rescue. This is a precautionary measure that allows the astronaut to get back to the spacecraft or space station if he or she becomes separated from it for some reason.
The space suit needs to protect the astronaut from many environmental extremes. Astronauts do not wear regular clothing underneath a space suit, but specially designed garments with tubes woven into the fabric.
Satellites
Observing Earth using satellites is a cost-effective way of obtaining unbiased and essential data on the physical world. Decision makers use this information to understand trends, evaluate needs, and create sustainable development policies and programmes for society.
Space technology’s key contributions to meeting society’s challenges include:
• The ability to communicate anywhere in the world;
• The ability to observe any place on Earth very accurately; and
• The ability to locate a fixed or moving object anywhere on the surface of the globe.
Types of Satellites
Depending on their purpose, satellites can be categorised as follows;
Communication Satellite
A communication satellite is mainly designed for communica- tion. It relays and amplifies radio telecommunication signals via a transponder and creates a communication channel be- tween a source transmitter and a receiver at different locations on Earth. Communications satellites are used for television, telephone, radio, internet, and military applications.
Earth Observation Satellite
Earth Observation (EO) satellites vary according to the type of orbit they have, the payload they carry, and from the point of view of imaging instruments, the spatial resolution, spectral characteristics and swath width of the sensors. They help in finding the Earth’s resources, in disaster management, etc. A weather satellite is part of EO satellites designed for weather forecasts. It is in a special orbit that hovers over the same spot on the Earth with a high-resolution camera that takes and sends pictures of weather systems. It is used to detect the development and movement of storm systems, cloud patterns, and other phenomena.
Navigation Satellite
Navigation satellites assist navigation and are global positioning satellites. They provide orbit information and accurate timing (and other services) to radio receivers specifically designed to receive those satellite signals and decode the signal message contents.
Types of satellites according to mass:
• Large satellites: More than 1,000kg;
• Medium-sized satellites: 500-1,000kg;
• Small satellites:
- Minisatellite: 100 – 500kg; - Microsatellite: 10 – 100kg; - Nanosatellite: 1-10kg;
- Picosatellite: less than 1kg.
While a satellite has no specific shape, it has two essential parts;
• Antenna − send and receive information;
• Power source − a solar panel or battery provides backup power or radioactive energy source for deep-space missions.
Satellites: Earth observation and remote sensing
Satellites can remotely sense and navigate space and capture accurate information faster and more efficiently. Satellites use artificial intelligent systems or algorithms to avoid collisions with debris, asteroids, or other satellites in the same space orbit. Satellites or remote sensors use these systems and algorithms to detect potential risks and then adjust their speed or direction.
Artificial intelligence is therefore an important part of space technology and exploration. It ensures that targets and orbital outcomes are achieved within the set timeframe.
Satellites produce large amounts of data that cannot be processed by researchers and scientists in real time. Artificial intelligence can produce useful reports on Earth and life in particular.
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LIFE BEYOND THE KÁRMÁN LINE - OUTER SPACE