Satellite
While we might not be able to see the thousands of metal objects hovering over our heads day and night, we certainly benefit from their existence 24/7. Satellites provide critical services in communications, internet connection for small area coverage, Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation, and weather monitoring (among other uses).
In allocating resources for these spatial objects and transmission channels, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is involved in assigning frequencies and positions for Geostationary Equatorial Orbit (GEO) satellites and orbital characteristics for non-GEO satellites. And there’s a growing number of space operations by private actors, governments, and intergovernmental organisations alike. For instance, the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO’s) crucial weather data and tracking of climate change come from real-time updates and monitoring of satellite images from all over the world. The United Nations Institute for Training and Research’s (UNITAR’s) Satellite Center (UNOSAT) further provides Rapid Mapping Service; combined with AI, UNOSAT’s FloodAI monitors flood-prone areas, especially during heavy-rainfall monsoon seasons in the Asia-Pacific region.
