At U.N. headquarters in New York, Space Week events include sessions on how technologies developed for space exploration are being used to improve farming and humanitarian efforts. Sometimes they're in very dangerous areas. But by tracking the camps via satellite, human monitors are kept a safe distance away from trouble. Countries can also use remote sensing to study agricultural patterns or view oceanic conditions to determine productive fishing areas. The United Nations encourages using space technologies to coordinate humanitarian affairs, said Davies.
Satellite communications can play a big role in disaster relief.
For example, after an earthquake, satellite links can keep communications going, aiding in relief efforts and helping to get food into disaster areas and performing other vital services, he said. Guo Baozhu, vice administrator of the China National Space Administration, will speak at the U.N. Wednesday on microgravity research in seed growth, also discussing how satellite imaging is used for agricultural applications like crop conditions and flood control. Other events at U.N. headquarters include a panel of space explorers from India, the United States, Romania and the European Space Agency discussing living in space for prolonged periods. The Planetary Society will hold a press conference where student journalists will interview Bill Nye the Science Guy and astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz, among others. The Discovery will be heading to the International Space Station, where astronauts will install a framework for four gyroscopes that will help the space station maintain its balance.