This newly launched satellite will improve weather tracking
You may get tired of hearing it, but knowledge is useful. It’s something we at The Optimist Daily try to empower you with every day, and it is something NASA understands the value of in plotting our climate-related future. That’s why the GOES-T Satellite’s launch last Tuesday is so Read More...
This ‘AI’ tool helps prevent Collisions in space
Space junk The amount of satellites being sent into space, to keep connecting the wider world and provide humans with the latest technology, is exponentially increasing. Along with this comes an increase in the amount of space debris circling the Earth. These expensive pieces of equipment can sit Read More...
How NASA technology is helping firefighters tackle wildfires on the ground
From the United States to the Mediterranean coastlines, wildfires have been breaking records this summer, with places in Greece, Lebanon, Turkey, and Italy seeing some of the worst fires in decades. As climate change-induced drought and severe heatwaves complicate the painstaking efforts of Read More...
New algorithm can count elephant populations via satellite images
For decades, the best way for conservationists to monitor threatened elephant populations has been via an aircraft survey. The problem is that elephant populations live in habitats that span international borders, which can make it difficult to obtain permission for aircraft surveys. Not to mention Read More...
Economists propose an “orbit tax” to solve the problem of space junk
Although it can seem like an endless void from Earth, the truth is that our near-space area is getting quite crowded, with more than half a million objects now orbiting the planet at speeds high enough to destroy satellites and do serious damage to the International Space Station. This space Read More...
Scientists are deploying satellites to monitor whale strandings from space
Back in 2015, Chile saw one of the largest mass mortality of baleen whales in recorded history, tallying at least 343 whales. But the remote location of the stranding meant that it went unreported for weeks, after which whales went missing and decomposition made it hard to determine how the whales Read More...
Virgin has found a way to make satellite launches more eco-friendly
If you haven’t already heard, Virgin Orbit successfully dropped a 70-foot rocket from a modified Boeing 747 jumbo jet at 35,000 feet. Although that sounds more like a dreadful occurrence that would happen during a war, it’s actually a good thing. Here’s why. Currently, launching a satellite Read More...
Satellites will soon track the exact air pollution of every power plant on Earth
Tuesday brought a somewhat mind-blowing announcement in the world of power plants and pollution. In a nutshell: A nonprofit artificial intelligence firm called WattTime is going to use satellite imagery to precisely track the air pollution (including carbon emissions) coming out of every single Read More...
Satellites orbiting the Earth are helping scientists predict times of drought
Researchers are using satellites to measure Earth’s underground stocks of water in order to predict the state of vegetation and risk of drought in the surveyed areas. Combined with computer modeling, these advanced scientific instruments orbiting our planet can stimulate the cycles of plant Read More...