Partnerships and Satellites — Our hope against Climate Change
The global cooperation of space agencies and technology companies against Climate Change.
The European Space Agency (ESA) and National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) together with SAP, the German multinational software corporation, partnered up to launch a satellite called Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich. The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite which was launched on Nov 21, 2020 is to be followed, in five years, by an identical satellite called Sentinel-6B.
Sentinel-6 is one of many of its kind to be in orbit. Its data is to be distinctly shared by both ESA and NASA. Along with their respective expertise, ESA is providing open access to the data from its network of eight satellites and NASA will be contributing three science instruments for each of the two satellites: the Advanced Microwave Radiometer, Global Navigation Satellite System — Radio Occultation and the Laser Retroreflector Array. However, the cooperation between space and technology industries is what merits modern attention.
The celebration of the satellites first results comes with great hope. As the launch of Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich bears an intertwined positive effect on society and our planet. Firstly, it sees space agencies and businesses cooperating to make life on earth better, or rather inhabitable, now and for future generations. Secondly, the data gathered by the satellite can significantly change the way decisions are made. Businesses, governments and individuals are granted access to earth observation conditions and applications which can be used to improve the efficiency of businesses and help in detecting potential causes of climate change quickly and in real time.
According to Senior Marketing Director at SAP, Thomas Pohl, the impact of individual human activity on climate change is far less compared to the activities of industry and commerce. Making the collaboration between the ESA, NASA and SAP all the more laudable.
Sentinel-6 gathered data
Pohl writes in Forbes that the primary purpose of the satellite is to gather and share a spectrum of data about the earth’s surface. The data delivered is said to be exceptionally precise. Additionally, the technology is sophisticated and well capable to monitor worrying environmental patterns. In this instance, it particularly detects and measures data about:
- Sea Levels
- Air quality
- Temperatures
- Vegetation
- Co2 levels
The data gathered by the earth observing satellite is rendered in stunning detail on NASA’s Eyes on the Earth web-based app. Real time data is exhibited on the app. “The app provides a 3D visualisation of the earth and sea-level-monitoring satellite, letting you see where it is right now as it glides over the cloud-covered glob” explains NASA.
This allows for critical measurements of our changing planet. Policymakers, businesses and scientists can make decisions and predictions based on accurate, real time environmental occurrences. Imminent decisions on the evolving consequences of climate change can be swiftly made using the data provided by the satellite. For instance, the direction of smoke from wildfires could easily be detected by the satellite thereby saving property and lives.
Sentinel-6’s first results surpass expectations
The first results of the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite came back astonishingly better than expected according to the results:
- The satellites position in space can now be better understood
- It’s the first to produce high fidelity low-noise data and
- It reveals exceptional detail.
ESA’s mission scientist for Copernicus Sentinel-6, Craig Donion said “ We can already see that the satellite is delivering incredible data, thanks to… the inclusion [of] simultaneous high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) processing and conventional low-resolution more into altimetry for the first time”. Sentinel-6’s task is to deliver critical and accurate measurements to better understand the improvement of the climate record. Fortunately, the new digital altimeter and Synthetic-aperture radar technology makes it more capable of returning clearer and more detailed measurements of the data.
Thomas Pohl further elaborates in Forbes that no matter what the end goal for humanity and businesses is, more accurate and up to date information can be continuously monitored to allow for better decision making for businesses and government agencies. Population growth and its impact on villages and urban environments are among the myriad of subject matter that can be better analysed using data provided by Sentinel-6.
Business time is now
The responsibility businesses have to act on climate change should not be overlooked. The ESA, NASA and SAP collaboration can be an example to other businesses to focus their efforts on creating sustainable partnerships and climate change efforts while growing and competing in the market.
In order for businesses to successfully use their resources in ways which enrich the environment, they ought to include environmental responsibility into their company culture, says Pohl. A virtual discussion between Josef Aschbacher, head of Earth observation at ESA and Dr. Herman Gyr, expert business transformation strategist, carefully showed how the vast environmental data provided by space agencies could be lucrative and advantageous for companies, governments and individuals to incorporate into their structures. While simultaneously urging them on to take effective and proactive action against climate change.
Dr. Herman Gyr pleaded that “This is the time to act. In fact, it’s the only time we have left to take meaningful action and avoid disaster. The good news is that a lot of companies are making credible commitments to regenerative practices”. His statement emphasised, once again, the importance of collaboration, research and development if the fight against climate change is to be won.
World Space Alliance
“Earth observation is one of the fastest growing domains in space” says Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes. The joint venture by ESA and SAP to create a digital marketplace ushered in the creation of the World Space Alliance.
The WSA was created to bridge the gap between the traditional earth observation discourse and the digitalised business world. It’s objective is to “strengthen the use of digital technologies and Earth observation data even more for a range of business sectors”. Making data more convenient and commercialised. SAP has already incorporated data from Copernicus Sentinel missions into commercial micro services or products.
To ensure that organisations and businesses make their fair share of contributions to fight against climate change, the WSA provides tools for companies to integrate earth observation data into their digital business operations. Although there’s still a long way to go, satellite data from ESA’s Earth observation missions integrated with satellite data provided on SAP’s Cloud Platform provides a solution to an obsolete precept. The self serving notion that businesses maximise on their profits. The WSA provides a way for businesses to contribute to their own successes (through easy access, networking, and commercial distribution of data and products worldwide) while joining the fight against climate change.
References:
- https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-6/Sea-level_monitoring_satellite_first_results_surpass_expectations
- https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/World_Space_Alliance_kicks_off
- To see real time orbit of Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/follow-sentinel-6-michael-freilich-in-real-time-as-it-orbits-earth
- https://news.sap.com/2020/10/esa-and-sap-slow-climate-change/?source=social-global-forbes-blog-IEumbrella-2021-NASA
