Only micro-satellites will answer the needs of tomorrow

Philippe Boissat is one of the founders of the non-profit business called the
« International Independent Institute for Space & Satellite Solutions » (3i3S, to make it short). In only three years, this institute managed the feat of strength to become the inescapable place of exchanges and discussions dealing with satellites. It thus reinforced the role of France, already considered to be the capital of quality as regards the spatial world.
Beyond that, 3I3S does not only act so as to promote this very spatial technology: It also facilitates the disposal of satellite applications for humanitarian and social ends. A wager of which its dynamic Head executive and founder is particularly proud of.

We were intending to organize a network in order to promote the satellite applications. If we can talk of a "success", it is most of all because we pay a lot of attention not to be manipulated by industrialists, and that our active members do not to look for their self-promotion throughout their involvement in the institute. Obviously, it is also because France is, for everyone, the capital of the spatial world. I'm evoking the term "network" because our institute doesn't only deal with professionals of the satellite. It is all about interactivity between different sorts of work as we put forward the idea of "application" in the core of our action and thinking. It is a very important point. Currently, satellite applications are only identified by meteorology, encrypted TV-channels and militaries. However, those same applications are multiple in art, security, medicine, culture, environment, and so on. With our little flashlight, we want to enlighten what still remains in the darkness. Finally, we are giving concrete expression to our theory by getting involved in charity and campaigns of solidarity.

We prove it whenever we get committed to operations for the planet, or for the protection of endangered species. This is the way our commitment goes, alongside the explorer Emilie Barrucand, who is the president of the association Wayanga for the defence of rights, cultures and lands of the autochthons of Amazonia. The institute made the retransmission of the images this explorer was filming all over her mission possible, thanks to satellites. Moreover, we'll never stop assessing that satellite must not be reduced to classic applications (such as meteorology, militaries, TV). Satellites can also be used vertically in a wide range of domains such as agriculture, environment, health, and so on.
Nonetheless, today, only very large satellites are launched because the reasons are essentially financial ones, whereas the needs of the future will be most of all linked to specialized solutions. New agents, such as Google or Youtube, already use satellites, and they are due to use them more and more. Every decision maker should think about that.

We've not stopped saying that sending bigger and bigger satellites was a mistake. The needs of tomorrow won't be fulfilled like that. Such countries as India and Pakistan, for example, understood it all right and will advocate the sending off of micro satellite with very specialized aims.
As regards the relationship between satellites and humanitarian and social projects, it is concrete. Just let me take the example of healthcare. In France, the eye specialists are settled in Marseille, the third degree burnings specialists in Lyon. If an urgent intervention is to be done elsewhere, the use of Satellites is compulsory to facilitate it. However, it is all too seldom used. With satellites, you can open a hospital in the middle of the jungle and deal with the issue of communication and help the doctors who are not able to know everything of an extremely specialized science. In a totally different area, thanks to satellite images, maps of loss of heat in urban areas can be made to encourage savings of energy. It is one of those realities one has to get acquainted with.

I'm being rather pessimistic because our politician leaders were not aware of the issues linked with satellites, and most of all, with their applications. For some political families, Satellites are to be considered as polluting. In France, the most surprising decision came from France Telecom who first chose to sell all its satellite activities (Note from the editor: in July 2006, France telecom sold its branch France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications to Apax Partner France) before, two years later, getting committed again in this area. In a broader perspective, I think decision makers didn't figure out our societies were turning into societies of mobility. To illustrate my point: the room occupied by optical fibre in the investments, which is an incredibly costly solution.

It is true it can become as described, if no regulation is put into place. It is believed that there are, today, a thousand satellites that are not used. This reality must be dealt with quickly. Currently, there is no law in Space. One can practically do whatever he wants. The international community ought to deal with this issue and to think about the Space of tomorrow.