Space Solutions to Earth’s Global Challenges” A Summary of ...

Paper IAC-08-E1.3.6, Thursday, 2 Oct 2008

International Astronautics Federation, 29 Sept – 3 Oct 2008, GlasgowE1.3: Space Education and Outreach Symposium: Educational Outreach

"Space Solutions to Earth’s Global Challenges”

A Summary of ISU’s 2008 Symposium Emphasizing Public Engagement

Regarding the Benefits from Space

J.B. Farrow, International Space University (ISU)

([email protected])



ISU’S MISSION

• ISU provides interdisciplinary programs to students and space professionals in an international, inter-cultural environment.

• ISU also serves as a neutral international forum for exchange of knowledge and ideas on challenging issues related to space.

• ISU’s main programs include a one-year Masters, the 2 month long Space Studies Program (SSP) and various Short Courses.

• These programs seek to:– impart critical skills essential to future space

initiatives in the public and private sectors

– inspire enthusiasm– promote international understanding and cooperation

– foster an interactive global network

– encourage innovative development of space for peaceful purposes



• Each year ISU organizes an annual symposium at its Campus Site in Strasbourg to address topical and interesting issues from an interdisciplinary and international perspective.

• These symposia draw up to 200 participants including our Masters students as forms an integral part of their program.

• The symposia also offer: – A public event which enhances ISU’s reputation– An opportunity for ISU to make new contacts and enlarge its network– A source of additional income through sponsorship and registration

• All sessions are plenary to encourage interaction between science, engineering, business, policy .. (very different to IAC!)

• Recent topics have included:(#6) Spring 2001: Smaller Satellites: Bigger Business?(#7) Spring 2002: Beyond the International Space Station:

The Future of Human Spaceflight(#8) Spring 2003: Satellite Navigation Systems(#9) Late 2004: Civil, Commercial and Security Space:

What Will Drive the Next Decade?(#10) Late 2005: Space Exploration: Who, What, When, Where, Why?(#11) February ‘07: Why the Moon? (#12) February ‘08: Space Solutions to Earth’s Global Challenges

ISU ANNUAL SYMPOSIA

2004

Late 2005

Early 2006



• Following the two previous successful symposia on ‘Space Exploration’ and ‘Why the Moon?’ we were keen to stay with an ‘Exploration-related’ theme since the subject is topical and challenging - and far from exhausted in terms of interest.

• At the same time, we recognized the growing public awareness and concern for problems on planet Earth

• We decided to focus on links between these two areas expressed well by:

• Both of these authors accepted to give invited talks.• NASA through their Exploration (ESMD) and Science (SMD)

Directorates encouraged us along this route and provided major sponsorship.

CHOICE OF THE 12th SYMPOSIUM THEME

– Leading astrobiologist Charles Cockell in his book entitled: ‘Space and Earth: Saving our World by Exploring Others’

– Space historian William Burrows in his book ‘The Survival Imperative: Using Space to Protect Earth’.

SPACE SOLUTIONS TO EARTH’S GLOBAL CHALLENGES

20 – 22 February 2008Strasbourg



and and supportedsupported byby

ISU’s 12 th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM

sponsoredsponsored byby



SYMPOSIUM SESSIONSDay 1

1. Identification of the main challenges2. Satellite applications (notably EO and communications)

Day 23. Science missions, and perspectives of Earth from space

4. Current and future technology for tackling Earth’s challenges

Day 3

5. Law and ethics relating to space and Earth’s atmosphere6. The way ahead - education, outreach & policy-making

From these sessions it was clear that space has most to offer in: • Climate change• Sustainable development• Disaster management• Water resources • Human health• Energy• Threats from cataclysmic events (NEO impact, etc)

We also heard how important it is to protect the environment in which satellites operate by space traffic management, orbit debris avoidance, regulation of frequency use, etc

SPACE SOLUTIONS TO EARTH’S

GLOBAL CHALLENGES



KEYNOTE ADDRESSThe European Contribution To Earth’s Global Challenges

Dr Paul Weissenberg, DG Enterprise and Industry, EC

What are the future challenges?

• Sustainable development• Clean water• Population growth & resources• Global long-term perspectives• Global convergence information

& communications technology• Rich and poor gap

• Health issues• Peace and conflict• Transnational crime• Energy• Science and technology• Global ethics• etc

GMES programme (recently re-titled Kopernikus) will:• produce operational services for the global monitoring of

environment and security issues• be based on Earth observation data, collected from space,

air, water or land• deliver services which are user-driven• be a component of the Global Earth Observation System of

Systems (GEOSS)



SESSION ONE: WHERE ARE WE NOW?A REVIEW OF THE MAIN CHALLENGES

• Expansion of Earth’s Economic Sphere: T. Cremins, NASA The NASA Exploration Program.

• Environmentalism and Space C. Cockell, OU – One and the Same?

• Tackling Society’s Challenges C. Jolly, OECD – An Essential Mission.

• NASA’s Earth Science Research Results J. Haynes, NASA Applied to Public Health

• For the Record – It’s as Easy as A-R-C* W. Burrows, USA

(* ARC = Alliance for the Rescue of Civilization)

• Panel Discussion on Session One



ENVIRONMENTALISM AND SPACE

– ONE AND THE SAME?Commonly held views:• ‘Space exploration is a waste of money when we should be

solving problems at home’• ‘Environmentalists are introspective and distract from the

exploration and settlement of space’

Charles Cockell’s views developed here and in his book are that:• There is no difference between space settlement and

environmentalism. Both are about successful establishment of sustainable human communities in the cosmos.

• Environmentalists are highly ambitious space explorers – they have chosen to look after the life support systems of the Earth.Space explorers have merely chosen to tend to the life support systems of small ships and stations.

• See also:

?



SESSION TWO - LOOKING EARTHWARD

• Looking Ahead for Observing Our Planet with the J-P. AntikidisE-Corce Vision – One Earth, One Metre, One Day CNES

• A System of Systems Approach for Integrated R. Birk, NGA Global Weather, Climate and Hazard Monitoring

• Monitoring Global Change from Space P-P. Mathieu, ESA

• GOSAT: Greenhouse Gas Observation T. Hamazaki, JAXA from Space

• Rapid EO Disaster Mapping S. Clandillon, SERTIT

• NASA’s Architecture for EO in Support of S. Ambrose, NASA Decision Making

• Learning New Methodologies to Deal D. Ouzonov, NASA with Large Disasters

• Bridging the Digital Divide: The Role of Space L. Stojak, Canada

• Discovering, Celebrating and Preserving the A. Udoyen, Nigeria African Continent

• Utilization of Space for Global Security T. Single, JAPCC

• Panel Discussion on Session Two



GLOBAL EARTH OBSERVATION SYSTEM OF SYSTEMS (GEOSS) - from NGA’s presentation



MILITARY PROGRAMS AND DUAL USE

(from JAPCC/NATO presentation on global security)



SESSION THREE – MOVING OUTWARD

• Tomorrow’s Caravels: Building on NASA’s H. Thronson Constellation Architecture to Achieve Multiple NASA Science Goals in Space

• Japanese Missions to Improve our Knowledge S. Ogawa, of Planets and Minor Bodies JAXA

• NASA’s Science Missions: Enhancing our C. Hartman Understanding of Earth and Meeting the NASA Challenges Ahead

• Lunar Biological and Social Archive A. Sabben

• Lunar Micro-Archives J. Burke

• A Sustained Presence in Space: H. Lyon & C. Smith The Meta-Conversation

• Panel Discussion on Session Three



SESSION FOUR – USING SPACE TECHNOLOGY BACK HOME ON OUR TOUGHEST CHALLENGES

• Opportunities Offered by Space Technology N. Marswell JPL to Enable the Next Giant Leap

• Space Solutions to Earth’s Global Challenges S.P. Worden NASA Ames

• The Overview Effect: The Next Fifty Years F. White, USA

• Very Large and Light-Weight Structures in Space W. SeboldtDLR

• Potential Roles of Space in Addressing M. Johansson Challenges of Sustainable Energy Systems ESA

• Summary of Studies on Space Solar Power T. Fujita, JAXA

• Space-Based Solar Power Development in W. Watson Today’s Political Environment Space Frontiers Foundation

• NASA Technologies and Contributions Towards D. Comstock Sustainability of our Planet NASA

• Space Technology Harnessed to Search Out G. Morgan, OU Tuberculosis

• Panel Discussion on Session Four



TECHNICAL FIXES?– PLANET ENGINEERING



SESSION FIVE – CLEANING UP OUR OWN ACT

• Safeguarding Space: a Global Common L. Stojak, Canada

• Space Traffic Management A. Oprong, ISU

• Achieving a Sustainable R. Williamson, SWF Space Environment

• Commercial Space Transportation: The P. Dempsey Intersection of Air Law and Space Law IASL, Montreal

• Caring for the Earth’s Atmosphere, M. Rycroft, UK Everyone’s Responsibility

• Panel Discussion on Session Five



CLIMATE CHANGE - THE BIG ISSUE



SESSION SIX – WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

• Down to Earth: From ‘Googled’ Spatial L-J. Smith, Riga Information to Planetary Information Rights

• Space Technology and its Impact on A. Lukaszczyk Food Security Space Generation

• Earth Observations and Policy Making D. Johnson, NGA

• Potential Role of Venezuelan Satellite in R. Acevedo, ISU Promoting Biodiversity Conservation in Latin America

• The Planet Action Initiative to Support Projects L-F. Guerre related to Climate Change SpotImage

• The “Case for Space” – How to Assist Decision K-U. SchroglMakers in Promoting Space Applications ESPI

• Telemedicine, Telehealth and E-Health S. Pandya Univ of Alberta

• Looking Back, Looking Forward and B. Thakore, ISU Aiming Higher

• Panel Discussion on Session Six


International Astronautics Federation, 29 Sept – 3 Oct 2008, GlasgowE1.3: Space Education and Outreach Symposium: Educational Outreach«To see the Earth as it

truly is, small and blue and beautiful in that

eternal silence where it floats, is to see

ourselves as riders on the Earth together....»(Archibald MacLeish)

In the call for papers this final session was described as follows:

“Given limited time to put across our views, how do we convince others of the usefulness of our missions? Can space activities, through the images and knowledge they provide, shift the thinking of vast numbers of humans so we might better protect and preserve our home and allow us to ride together on this «small and blue and beautiful»planet as Macleish so eloquently described it?”

• Not all contributions addressed these aspects so directly but there were some very good summaries of policy issues and a lively discussion period as summarized in the accompanying IAC paper.

• For full details please leave a card with your contact details and we will send a copy of the DVD containing all the presentations and discussions.



Tele-education architecture (CEV, 2008)

KEY POLICY ISSUES PRESENTED BY ESPI

“Case for Space” - study presented by ESPI• Serving Society

• Protecting the Environment• Managing Risks

“Threats, Risks and Sustainability - Answers by Spac e”

• Political and legal frameworks should be created to cope with various threats and challenges to the sustainability on Earth.

• Utilisation of space should be better organised: users should be more clearly identified, operational services should be defined and space research programmes should be transitioned into operational ones.

• In order to sustain life on Earth, sustainable use of the space environment has to be promoted.

• For further details see http://www.espi.or.at/

• Knowledge• Security• Mobility

• Environment• Resources• Energy



RAISING THE INTEREST LEVEL OF ISU MASTERS STUDENTS!

(This is a shortened version of a 4 hour Interdisciplinary Exam Question for ISU’s MSS students, March 2008)

You are an adviser in the department responsible for civil space activities in your nation. The minister wishes to meet with you this afternoon to prepare a convincing case to seek significant increases in the space budget to allow your country to become more active in projects that address global challenges. Prepare notes for the meeting setting out:

• A brief outline of the importance of the main challenges (disasters, water, health, etc) with a summary in each case of how space programs could assist now or in the future.

• Further details of the major scientific and engineering aspects of space missions relevant to any two of the areas.

• Key issues regarding space traffic management and orbit debris (since your department is receiving many questions on this because of the recent destruction of a US satellite).

• Recommendations on how to improve outreach and education in order to gain public approval for increased space spending and attract more students to study space-related subjects



ISU’s NEXT (13 th) ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM

• ISU’s next symposium, will address space and security issues – a topic touched on in several contributions at the last one.

• As used here, the term ‘security’ has a very broad definition including civil, military and dual-use systems as well as the continued safe operation of space assets faced with natural and man-made threats.

“Space for a Safe and Secure World”18 – 20 Feb 2009

ISU Campus, Strasbourg

• Further information appears at our website: http://www.isunet.edu/ and click on Symposium

• Pick up a copy of the Call for Papers and note that the abstract deadline is tomorrow!

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