Are environmental monitoring satellites the key to revolutionising climate action?
Are environmental monitoring satellites the key to revolutionising climate action? Dave Walsha explains how motor technology can power the fight.
With 2024 set to be the hottest year on record, sea-levels rising faster, and extreme weather events destroying communities around the world, global players must find a new cutting-edge solution to mitigate climate change. Could environmental monitoring satellites be just that solution?
From 11-22 November 2024, over 50,000 people including world leaders, climate scientists and trade union representatives, met in Baku, Azerbaijan, for COP29. Two interlinked pillars formed the framework for this year’s conference: to enhance ambition and enable action through increasing investment in climate action projects.
In line with this framework, environmental monitoring satellites took a principal role during discussions at the annual COP session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 61). On behalf of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites and the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites, Beth Greenway, head of earth observation for the UK Space Agency, provided the annual update at SBSTA 61. Greenway highlighted the crucial role of satellites in transforming our knowledge of and approach to mitigating and monitoring the effects of climate change.
CLIMATE DATA COLLECTION
Environmental monitoring satellites use remote sensing technologies to observe and capture electromagnetic radiation emitted or reflected by the Earth’s surface, atmosphere and oceans. Over 50% of climate variables can only be measured from space. Based on their chemical and physical properties, different materials and phenomena, such as vegetation, glaciers and pollutants, interact with radiation in distinct ways. This data is then transmitted in real-time to ground stations, where it’s converted into maps, graphs or high-resolution imagery for analysis.
Environmental monitoring satellites can be further equipped with advanced sensors, such as Active Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Hyperspectral, to collect optical data through dense cloud cover and gather imagery across hundreds of spectral bands. Radio frequency satellite sensors advance this capability by detecting illegal activities such as unauthorised deforestation or mining.
Satellites provide critical insight and uncover hidden details about the impacts of climate change. However, this technology still requires improvement, especially regarding
its motors.
SURVIVING SPACE
Motors are integral to satellite functionality, as they are responsible for precise positioning and orientation, deploying solar panels and antennas, and stabilising cameras for imaging and sensor readings.
Upon launch, a satellite reaches speeds of at least 17,000 miles per hour. Once in orbit, the satellite must continuously adjust its velocity to counteract the Earth’s gravitational pull. Throughout this journey, the satellite’s motors must withstand extreme vibration, temperature fluctuations ranging from -150°C to 150°C, and cosmic radiation. Motors are also often stored in harsh conditions for long durations, placing additional stress on the components.
These challenging conditions place significant demands on motor reliability and longevity. A fault – thermal overload, loss of position accuracy or torque control failure – could compromise functionality, potentially leading to mission failure. To avoid this, manufacturers must choose a motor that can operate efficiently, as well as endure space.
A STEP UP
Stepper motors are uniquely designed to offer precise control and durability, making them ideal for environmental monitoring satellites, which are reliant on incremental adjustments for orientating sensors, stabilising cameras and aligning antennas.
Unlike conventional motors with continuous rotation, stepper motors move in discrete steps, allowing for highly accurate positioning. Their incremental or stepped movement is achieved through controlled electromagnetic pulses, each activating specific stator windings surrounding the motor’s toothed rotor. This creates a magnetic field that aligns the rotor’s teeth step by step.
In addition, a stepper motor’s design includes multiple stator windings, absence of brushes and commutators and high magnetic field strength, which enables them to provide high torque at low speeds, ensuring stable and accurate operation even if exposed to extreme temperatures and other harsh environmental conditions. This resilience ensures a long operational life, making stepper motors a reliable choice for satellites tasked with critical climate monitoring missions.
Faulhaber’s stepper motors, supplied by drive system supplier Electro Mechanical Systems (EMS), feature a compact and lightweight design with diameters ranging from 6-66mm and weights of between 1-125g. Despite their small size, these motors deliver powerful performance and high acceleration speeds. Their lightweight construction enhances fuel efficiency, an essential factor in satellite launches, where every kilogram of mass incurs significant fuel costs.
The urgency for ambitious and innovative solutions to combat climate change has never been more apparent. At COP29, the possibility of environmental monitoring satellites transforming the approach to the climate crisis gained further actionable momentum. However, for this technology to reach its full potential and be swiftly adopted, it must be supported by reliable, high-performance components.
