Fight terror by satellite: report
australianit.news.com.au
Barbara Gengler
OCTOBER 01, 2002
SATELLITES should be used more aggressively to detect, identify, thwart and defeat terrorists, a Datacomm Research report suggests.
Low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites are suited to the task, the report suggests, nominating three networks: Iridium developed by Motorola; Globalstar operated by Qualcomm, and Orbcomm, a joint venture of Orbital Sciences and Teleglobe that uses geosynchronous satellites.
These three satellite networks are poised to play key roles in the war against terror, both in attack and defence, the report says.
The report advises the US departments of defence and Homeland Security to create affirmative-action programs for LEO satellite services, routing as much business to them as possible.
The report gives examples of how satellites can be effective at home and abroad.
Rescue workers in New York used Globalstar phones after the terrorist attacks knocked out most cellular and landline services,
The US military uses Iridium phones in Afghanistan.
Iridium, the report says, is developing other uses.
Two potential applications include equipping air marshals with phones and two-way cockpit communications for planes beyond the reach of ground controllers.
Rather than using intersatellite links as Iridium does, Globalstar employs a bent-pipe architecture that relays signals from the mobile user to the nearest ground station.
Orbcomm, the report says, is well placed to monitor fuel tanker trucks, cruise ships and reservoirs.
Orbcomm's biggest advantage is its inconspicuous and inexpensive devices that can be installed on anything from pipelines to vehicles to freight containers, the report says.
Satellites have demonstrated their utility in the war against terrorism, it says.
The report's author, Ira Brodsky, says the US could seize an overwhelming advantage if it mobilised the hi-tech industry.
"I'm talking about technologies to discover terrorist cells, to eavesdrop on planning sessions, to thwart attacks, to lessen the impact of attacks that do take place, and to put terrorists on the run."
Brodsky says the three LEO networks should be considered essential infrastructure for national and international security. |
