Space Equity
Space Equity
In 61 short years, the satellite industry has matured from Sputnik-1’s first steps outside our atmosphere to providing the foundation for a global communication and information network that facilitates the movement of goods, people, and the global supply lines underpinning our economy. It is evident the satellite services industry has grown ambitiously, but it is imperative to consider if our means of innovating are sustainable.
At present, 2000 satellites surround Earth in low-orbit, anticipated to rise dramatically over the next decade to over 100,000 satellites in orbit as per the launch of planned satellite constellations. The paradigms and structural inequalities that led to this mega-crisis are also behind how space is being occupied, with little coordinated international regulation, discussion of ethical considerations, or consensus-building from a shared vision for the future of humanity in space. The rush to claim near-Earth space (also known as the Low Earth Orbit or LEO) is also leaving out the world’s most marginalized communities, including Indigenous peoples, who need to be involved as stakeholders in decision-making.
Cultural Knowledge
One might make the case that the cultural significance of the Moon is far greater than that of the boot prints and detritus left behind on its surface just decades ago. The private sectors treatment of space as a “Wild West'' frontier that requires conquering has incentivized its claiming by the paradigms and structural inequalities that led to the wounding and long-term consequences of imperial colonization and the resulting policies here on Earth - now posed to be magnified on a cosmic scale for the most vulnerable minoritized communities, including Indigenous peoples.
Indigenous thought is relational, rooted in language, space and place, and based on renewal; in simpler terms, Indigenous thought is rooted within sustainability. A key aspect of Indigenous identity and knowledge is space referencing or “Space and Place;” learning in harmony with a specific time and place, which is part of a broader relational view of the Universe and our place in it. This directly contradicts the private sector's race to conquer space. We advocate for an alternative view that is similarly unified in science and culture - seeing as science is inseparable from the cultural values and ideologies driving it.
Digital Divide
Price is not the sole reason for the technological divide. Sometimes it reflects existing disparities not only in telecommunications infrastructure but also educational attainment and general human capital levels among households and regions in a country. For example, Kudasheva and others (2015) show that inequality in access to ICTs is associated with and may have led to higher income inequality in Kazakhstan, where wealthier households can afford higher-quality Internet services while low-income households can afford only lesser quality service with slow, blurry images and unstable streaming.
Technological divides hinder inclusion. Since artificial intelligence, machine learning, biotechnology, satellite technologies and their applications in health, education, transportation, agriculture, and manufacturing are directly and indirectly affected by the use of the Internet and, in particular, broadband access. When the right policies are deployed in a coordinated manner, these technologies can drive development and make it possible to create more inclusive societies. Conversely, without an integrated framework of deliberate public policies, the same technologies could make societies more unequal.
Disaster Vulnerability
Satellites are essential tools we use to increase our knowledge of climate processes and their impacts, and thus properly target our action plans and response activities. “Unfortunately, due to lack of funds, expertise, equipment or awareness, developing countries are not using satellite technology to its full potential.” (Wood, 2008)
For instance, the economy of northern Bangladesh mainly depends upon agriculture production. Therefore, flood disasters in Dinajpur along the Punarbhaba Atrai rivers result in significant loss of life and economic damage. The two proposed satellites for Bangladesh to monitor floods are from the European Space Agency and NASA, rather than their own, which may hinder their ability to access timely satellite data. Microwave and optical data from satellites could help map the flooded area with an accuracy of 89-96% depending on various factors, rendering access to satellite data of critical importance to preserving livelihood across the country. In the event of asset failure or service disruption in Space, the impacts will not only affect the US or Europe but also Bangladesh. Furthermore, if Bangladesh cannot plan response and mitigation activities to natural disasters because they lack access to satellite data, crises like flooding could migrate to other countries and trigger a cascade of negative impacts for sovereign neighbours.
Future-Oriented
The role of satellite constellations, and more broadly, the lack of consistent international regulation and consensus-building, strike at the core of humanity’s scientific and cultural relation to the night sky. To preserve the interests of all parties that will rely on satellite services, we need to consider the circumstances of all parties or they will be left behind. This includes isolated cultures with traditions related to stars, and countries without ownership of a satellite depending on others with satellites to receive critical early warning data and services. In order to harness the potential of new technologies, governments need to introduce policies and strategies to make them accessible and beneficial to all.
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