How the Future of Satellites Might Affect Life on Earth I NOVA Now

In 2020, the world celebrated two decades of continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

As an orbiting laboratory that has provided astronauts with a view of Earth from outer space, the ISS may not seem very similar to more recent innovations like tiny CubeSats. But all of these devices are satellites: objects orbiting something larger than themselves. Satellites can be natural (like the Moon) or human-made (like the ISS).

Joined by two experts in this outer-worldly technology, host Alok Patel explores how satellites have shaped our understanding of the modern world, including NASA and USGS’ Landsat program’s effort to create a space-based record of the surface of the Earth, and what lies ahead at the intersection of justice and space.

NOVA Now is a production of GBH and PRX.

It’s produced by:
Sandra Lopez-Monsalve
Ari Daniel
Jocelyn Gonzales
Isabel Hibbard
Christina Monnen
Ian Coss

Julia Cort and Chris Schmidt are the co-Executive Producers of NOVA.
Dante Graves is Director of Audience Development.
Sukee Bennett is Senior Digital Editor.
Robin Kazmier is Science Editor.
Lorena Lyon is Digital Production Assistant.
Emma Uk is research intern.
And Nina Porzucki is Managing Producer of Podcasts at GBH.

Our theme music is by the innovative DJ Kid Koala.

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Written by NOVA PBS Official