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The struggle for world leadership in the space industry has been going on for more than a decade. However, as the international company Inmarsat found out, people know almost nothing about developments in this area.
In June 2022, British satellite communications company Inmarsat published a report on public attitudes towards the space industry. The report managed to cover the opinions of 20 thousand people from 11 countries: USA, Brazil, Germany, South Korea, Canada, India, Australia, China, Japan, Great Britain, UAE.
How space is perceived in the world
First of all, the analysts found out from the respondents what associations they have with the word “space”. The most popular answers were:
- satellites (46%);
- flights to the Moon and Mars (37%);
- missiles (26%);
- research and discovery (25%);
- aliens (21%);
- space tourism (20%);
- science fiction (14%);
- Star Wars (10%);
- billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk (10%).
According to experts, these data vary depending on the country of residence of the respondents. For example, space tourism was most often talked about in China – 60% of respondents. This indicator in China is three times higher than the global trend: this topic is now especially relevant in the country. For example, Chinese engineers will soon present the first space station for individuals.
How does age affect associations?
The perception of the cosmic sphere directly depends on age. The study found that young people (18-24 years old) more than older people associate space with aliens, Star Wars and billionaires. And people over 65 are much more likely to think of research, rockets, satellites, and telecommunications when they talk about space.
Analysts believe that the difference in perception is due to the fact that many of the older respondents caught the start of the space age.
Which countries claim to know the most about space
The industry is most interested in the inhabitants of those countries that are now fighting for the title of world space power. The study cites India as an example. Respondents from this state are twice as likely as respondents from other countries to say that they know a lot about the “space” Internet and alternative energy sources. And representatives of those countries that were especially distinguished by their space developments in the XNUMXth century (for example, the USA) currently have less information about developments.
What worries people
Residents of the UK and South Korea are the most worried about what can happen in outer space. Also, almost every fifth respondent from the countries participating in the survey is concerned about the introduction of new diseases from space to Earth. This concern is particularly visible in countries that have been hit hard by the spread of COVID-19:
- South Korea (26%);
- China (25%);
- Brazil (24%).
As the scale of human activity in space increases, the report’s authors say the concern will grow. Already, respondents identify three main problems that humanity will have to deal with in the future: space debris and collisions with it, space pollution and damage to the Earth’s atmosphere. Most of all, the problem of space debris worries the respondents of Germany (57%), Korea (56%) and Brazil (55%). Residents of Korea (52%), Brazil (46%) and India (46%) are worried about space pollution. The UAE (45%), China (43%) and India (38%) have the highest levels of concern about damage to the Earth’s atmosphere.
At the same time, respondents from China, India and the UAE admitted that when they think about space, they experience two opposite feelings: fear of the unknown and excitement because of the opportunities that are opening up.
What space technologies are considered important
Most people do not have a clear idea of the value of space technology, the report says. But at the same time, respondents believe that innovation is important for ensuring global security. Therefore, among the discoveries, respondents especially highlight:
The survey also showed that most people have no interest in satellite technology. Although thanks to them, most processes function. For example, mining is completely dependent on satellites. The process of “mining” cryptocurrency would not be possible without a stable and high-quality Internet. The agricultural sector has also long and effectively used satellite Internet for precision farming. For example, drones and satellites help to monitor the condition of the field remotely, and specially developed applications calculate the fertilizer rates for each plot. Thanks to technology, farmers use seeds and pesticides efficiently, while increasing yields.
Also, without satellite communications, there would be problems with food supply chains. About 50% of people believe that the shipping industry will be able to function without space. But the developments of the industry have been inextricably linked with the maritime sector for several decades.
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly: “Ignorance about communication satellites surprises me. 29% of respondents stated that they do not consider them necessary. They obviously don’t understand how the voice and data systems they use actually work. The way they navigate in their cars, the planes that take them on vacation, all this is connected with space technology. Even when people use the ATM, the timing signal comes from the GPS satellite. If you remove this technology, people will notice it in seconds. Perhaps the satellite sector needs to work harder to communicate its value to the public.”
How business affects the space industry
The authors of the study conducted a survey not only among the population. The leaders of the business community also took part in this process. It turned out that entrepreneurs are better versed in the prospects and commercial opportunities of the field – from space tourism to healthcare.
The driving force at the start of the space age was governments and politicians. But now the leadership belongs to the business. From a commercial point of view, the second space age (that is, what is happening in space today) is an emerging market in which new entrants and startups are fighting for the first positions.
The report states that 69% of people around the world have heard of SpaceX. But only 35% of respondents actually know what the company does. A similar situation has developed with NASA. Almost every one of the 20 respondents has heard of the department, but 25% of those surveyed do not know about its discoveries and activities.
This low awareness among the public is a signal that the space sector needs to promote its work. After all, the sphere attracts record amounts of investment and will continue to grow in the near future.