How private satellite industry can benefit humanitarian, defense, other issues

We are living in a time of great uncertainty.

Rising ocean levels are causing a vast erosion of our continents. War has damaged cities and countries around the globe. And national security fears have become engrained in the everyday consciousness of Americans. The safety, livelihood, and prosperity of Americans each day are in question.

{mosads}But these trials can be viewed through the lens of immense opportunity. New technology has given us the tools to approach and mitigate these challenges with confidence and deftness.  Specifically, when tackling climate change, defense, humanitarian, and even agricultural concerns, advancements made in satellite imaging enable us to collect new, global data that provides us with the ability to identify, track, and combat these changes with new levels of precision and speed.

The ingenuity of these commercial satellite companies, many of whom are headquartered in America and support jobs in Maryland and elsewhere, can be of great service to the United States and its government. There are multiple high-performing satellite imaging companies that can be–and already have been—enormously beneficial to the federal government.

I know from my former position on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence how vital it is for the U.S. to have trustworthy intelligence and data that capitalizes on technology as the world evolves and threats like those posed in China, Iran, North Korea and cyberspace escalate. These satellite companies can be a partner in that effort.

And as a member from Maryland, I know the potential for these satellite firms to help scientists in my state prevent, combat, and recover from erosion and degradation along the Chesapeake Bay – a threat that continues to grow each year – or monitor the impacts of global warming.

Protecting these water sources is a deeply personal goal of mine. The Chesapeake Bay, for example, contributes an estimated $1 trillion to the economies of the states it borders beyond being a stunning watershed.

Anything that allows us to innovate and make strides on these issues is worth considering.

Last year, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Director Robert Cardillo challenged his agency and the larger federal government to take advantage of the commercially-focused satellite imagery firms by “no longer simply admir[ing] the potential” of small satellites by “wait[ing] on the sidelines.”

It’s an example of the federal government capitalizing on the imaginations and abilities of the private industry to perfect the critical work of the public sector.

Cardillo has made good on this promise. The NGA has enhanced its mission to deliver world-class geospatial intelligence to support policymakers, warfighters, intelligence professionals, and first responders by partnering with three satellite providers in recent months[nga.mil].

And these satellite firms have already proven to be of immense value to humanitarian, defense, and business efforts. Consider that satellite imagery was recently able to show the rapid growth of refugee camps in Syria, Uganda, and Jordan and the presence of Chinese boats in a disputed area of the South China Sea. Or has been used to help the government in its mapmaking and imagery analysis for humanitarian purposes.

The possibilities are truly endless in the vast quantities of data that commercial satellites collect, giving us a new view of our world.

Already, commercial satellite companies have provided imagery to track port traffic and disaster effects – helping improve business and economic efficiency. They can also be used to track the growth of critical agriculture products and help experts predict surpluses and shortfalls. Just consider that opportunity. Being able to view images and know if there is likely to be a shortage of grains or soy. We are not far off. 

These satellites can blend the expertise of government with the ingenuity of the private sector to help keep our country growing and safe. The satellites have the capacity to monitor North Korean nuclear activity, deforestation, ISIS’ destruction of archaeological sites, and the flow of refugees from the Middle East and African nations.

It is something we as leaders should support and expand.

Ruppersberger represents Maryland’s 2nd District. He formerly served as the senior-most Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

The views expressed by authors are their own and not the views of The Hill.