Space Security Index

Space Security 2011
94
with it. e development of competing independent satellite navigation systems, although
conceivably interoperable and able to extend the reliability of this global utility, may face
problems related to proper inter-system coordination and lead to disagreements over the use
of signal frequencies. Another concern is orbital crowding as states seek to duplicate global
services, particularly in MEO.
Remote sensing
Remote sensing satellites are used extensively for a variety of Earth observation functions,
including weather forecasting; surveillance of borders and coastal waters; monitoring of
crops, sheries, and forests; and monitoring of natural disasters such as hurricanes, droughts,
oods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and avalanches. Access to EO data is
spreading worldwide, although not without diculties. 194 To ensure truly broad access to
data, agencies across the globe are working to enhance the eciency of data sharing with
international partners. 195
e European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)
provides meteorological data for Europeans. e National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), founded in 1970, provides the U.S. with meteorological services. 196
Satellite operators from China, Europe, India, Japan, Russia, and the U.S., together with the
World Meteorological Organization, make up the Co-ordination Group for Meteorological
Satellites, a forum for the exchange of technical information on geostationary and polarorbiting
meteorological satellite systems. 197
e Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), coordinated by the Group
on Earth Observation, has the goal of “establishing an international, comprehensive,
coordinated and sustained Earth Observation System.” 198 As of March 2011, the Group on
Earth Observation has members from 86 state governments and the European Commission.
In addition, 61 intergovernmental, international, and regional organizations are recognized
as Participating Organizations. 199 Established in 2005, GEOSS has a 10-year implementation
plan. Benets will include reduction of the impact of disasters, resource monitoring and
management, sustainable land use and management, better development of energy resources,
and adaptation to climate variability and change. 200 e European GMES initiative is
another example of a centralized database of Earth observation data made available to users
around the world. 201
Disaster Relief & Search-and-Rescue
Space has also become critical for disaster relief. e International Charter Space and Major
Disasters was initiated by ESA and CNES in 1999 to provide “a unied system of space
data acquisition and delivery to those aected by natural or man-made disasters through
Authorized Users.” 202 Other member organizations include the CSA, NOAA, ISRO, the
Argentine Space Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey, the British National Space Centre,
CNSA, and DMC International Imaging, which bring together resources from over 20
spacecraft. 203 DMC International Imaging operates satellites for the Disaster Monitoring
Constellation, a collaboration of Algeria, China, Nigeria, Spain, ailand, Turkey, the
U.K., and Vietnam. Initiated by China, the project uses dedicated microsatellites to provide
emergency Earth imaging for disaster relief, as well as daily imaging capabilities to partner
states. 204
In 1979, COSPAS-SARSAT, the International Satellite System for Search and Rescue,
was founded by Canada, France, the USSR, and the U.S. to coordinate satellite-based
search-and-rescue. COSPAS-SARSAT is basically a distress alert detection and information