| Ryan Sumners | CIS-106 | 12/14/2012 | Term Paper |

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Abstract

Satellite technology, will be my main focus. Satellite Technology not only is used in everyday civilian live but also everyday law enforcement. GPS is vital in apprehending and finding suspects. I am interested in what the future of implementing this technology may hold. Satellites also are important for communication, which does organize and save lives.
Identify and describe a future information technology that you believe will create a paradigm shift.
Identify and describe the domain in which the shift will occur.
Explain the technology, how it works, and how it is different from what we have today.
Give at least five (5) reasons why the technology will create a shift.

Satellites
It’s important to note how satellites work, the history behind its creation, and finally how satellites are used past to present. There are different types of satellites which are devised for a specific task; examples are astronomy satellites, atmospheric satellites, communication satellites, navigation satellites, reconnaissance satellites, remote sensing satellites, and search and rescue satellites. Emerging satellites that are most relevant to law enforcement and Homeland security use communication, navigation, and sometimes recon satellites; so those are the only satellites which will be discussed. Anik E is an example of a communication satellite, Navstar for a navigation satellite, and Big Bird for a recon satellite. Satellites are an emerging technology in terms of the fields I am interested in and work in and it has just scratched the surface on how it can improve the overall department of today, and the future.
“On October 4, 1957, the USSR put into orbit a tiny sphere with a radio transmitter that beeped its way into history,” (Caltech/JPL, 2011). This was the world’s first satellite. This not only changed the world but the way in which people conduct business now and forever. Because of this event we now use satellites in businesses worldwide for long range telecommunications which the global community can use in a globalized economy. We can use satellites for accurate time keeping as well as global position satellites, (GPS) which will tell a police officer exactly when a crime occurred, where it occurred, and directions on how to get there when the address in entered in a GPS device. Databases can be updated with this information as well. If it was not for its launch in 1957 of the world’s first satellite, the job would take longer for an officer to perform his/her duties and gather enough evidence against a suspect in some cases.
A satellite sends signal to devices in order to achieve its desired function. A satellite orbits around the planet and the satellite sends its signal in a straight line. If the signal cannot reach the user, then the signal is sent to another satellite until there is signal available for use. This allows the user to securely posses the ability to use their communication systems 24 hours a day. “Communication satellites allow radio, television, and telephone transmissions to be sent live anywhere in the world,” (Galactics, 1997).
Global positioning satellite (GPS) manufactured by the Department of Defense (D.O.D) in 1978, has revolutionized the way we get from one place to another. “The Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense,” (Garmin Ltd, 1996-2001). GPS was only used by the military until the government allowed everyone to use it for free. When the user has 3 satellites triangulated onto their position it is considered to be a good signal. “Once the user’s position has been determined, the GPS can calculate other information, such as speed, bearing, track, trip distance, distance to destination, sunrise and sunset time and more,” (Garmin Ltd, 1996-2001). Not only is the GPS device cheap it’s easy to operate and highly accurate to within about 3 meters. GPS is everywhere I even have it on my smart phone, tablet, computer, watch, database, etc.
Satellites can accurately help in surveying and in drawing maps as well as updating them for future use. Maps in which a satellite can assist with include but are not limited to elevation, topographic, political, climate, and road maps. In cases of crisis like a natural disaster this can change the terrain altogether, satellites can accurately see what places are accessible and which are not; this could have helped in the case of hurricane Katrina back in 2005 or more recently hurricane Sandy as well. In the future, maybe it will make maps based on social classes or high crime areas this will allow the government to focus its finances on those specific areas instead of wasting money on other areas which do not have as much crime.
“Not so long ago, satellites were exotic, top-secret devices. They were used primarily in a military capacity, for activities such as navigation and espionage. Now they are an essential part of our daily lives,” (HowStuffWorks Inc., 1998-2011).
Future of Satellites For the future, satellites could possibly be used to monitor specific locations or act as instant droids instead of predator drones overhead. Satellites could send a small electromagnetic pulse (EMP) or send that signal to shut off their cell phone and other electronic devices. I can definitely see the ethical problems associated with this power but it is a possible application in the future of satellites. We seem to use technology as a weapon and not just for practical use so it would make sense for some satellites to take this form in the future. Ultimately the future for satellite technology and the use of it to help in security is for the better. Not all places on Earth are drone accessible and our enemies know when satellites are overhead so the future of satellites has to be better especially in terms of countries like Iran and N. Korea.
Satellites are vulnerable to solar disruptions and that will be a non factor in the future. If countries get into wars such as America and China satellites will be attacked as target of opportunities. The Air Force is using the X-37 space ship which could take out satellites and possibly spy on countries from space but its intent is unknown. Satellites could be armed with weaponry in the future if technology improves and could be launched anywhere on Earth within 90 minutes. On a positive note satellites of the future could intercept ICBMs before they hit their targets backing some truth behind Reagan’s “Star Wars” concept. Internet signal could be rerouted to areas without internet for small periods of time and emergency management teams. Since Homeland Security is such a huge point of emphasis on the future I can see more tracking devices/ rfid chips being used for inventory and finding specific people considered a threat. Satellites, like predator drones were at first used for surveillance at first, will most likely be used for defense purposes in a more active role. Space craft, satellites, and space stations considering the human race, are not too farfetched to imagine weapons on these structures.
This interests me on how satellites work in conjunction to future emerging technologies such as smart phones. As technology improves, so does our techniques and threats can be cyber security or external national security issues such as surveillance. How would it be with no satellites? I wasn’t around before Sputnik but I would like to research how hard it was before satellites.
Other Countries
Recently North Korea, China, and Japan are moving towards space programs and this could push for other countries to engage in a space race much like an arms race. Space debris is a problem and perhaps satellites could destroy space junk or push them into Earth’s atmosphere if they are small enough. Other countries could use an Onstar system for their cars as well in case of emergencies, phone calls, car diagnostics, and directions with the use of satellites. Weather will be more accurate and people can be informed sooner rather than later. Places in danger of flooding can be labeled on topographic maps as well.

Clocks can be set on satellite time so once it is on there is no need to change it based off Greenwich time zones simply plug it in. Carbon levels and scientific data can be gathered to either prove or disprove global warming and what affect humans might have on the atmosphere since countries like China and India will most likely look to coal as a cheap, abundant, and useful source for energy.
Teleconference calls will not be as delayed and the connection will be sound and the picture clear. This area I believe has major room for improvement and how top wireless carriers are not more on board such as Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint I think is a mistake as they could expand their influence globally just not internationally. Teachers could use this technology to teach kids in poor countries without having to leave the country but the internet may be only as fast as the technology inside of our satellites. As the internet grows so should the usage of satellites. Radar could become more accurate when other countries will try and fly above radar where only satellites will be able to detect them or have satellites that are able to detect stealth aircraft.
These are just some ideas that companies will run with or disregard when it comes to building and testing defense and communication satellites. Paradigm shifts with this technology is likely like solar energy, and WIMAX capability, there just the market and what people want has to be there as well. Globalization since the mid 90s is still evolving and the internet has been the greatest technological tool maybe of all time and satellites can aid in its expansion in the coming decades. When paying taxes it’s good to see that they can be used for good and the people that will be most affected I think will be those in developing countries that may not have the capability as we do in the U.S.
References
Caltech/JPL. (2011). Early History – First Satellites. Retrieved on December 14, 2012 from http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/jplhistory/early/firstsatellites.php
Galatics. (1997). Satellites- Types and Uses of Satellites. Retrieved on December 14, 2012 From http://www.satellites.spaceim.org/english/function/index.html
Garmin Ltd. (1996-2001). What is GPS. Retrieved on December 14, 2012 from http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/
HowStuffWorks Inc. (1998-2011). How Satellites Work. Retrieved on December 14, 2012 from http://www.howstuffworks.com/satellite.htm