The Earth satellite project bringing Chinese, US and Russian space scientists together
- Researchers aim to send 3 networks into orbit to give a global picture of the planet’s big threats
- Advances in small satellite tech and lower-cost launches make it all possible, lead researcher says
More than a dozen countries, including the United States, China, Russia and Brazil, will help build the satellite networks to collect and share data from different orbits.
Daniel Baker from the University of Colorado – Boulder in the US, said no country could – or should – go it alone when it came to such existential problems.
“I’m excited that we not only get to do basic science but also address issues that are of real consequences to humans. This dual use of basic research and applied research is at the core of what the [satellite] constellations are about,” he said.
Baker, who is leading the effort, said he expected some of the satellites to go into orbit by 2025.
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The satellites will be grouped in constellations to give scientists a bigger picture by combining data from many spacecraft at once rather than relying on the single-point observations of missions in the past.