Yemi Olakitan
Space exploration is a fascinating and important endeavour that has many benefits for the environment.
Space exploration helps us monitor and understand the changes in our planet’s climate, ecosystems, and natural resources.
Satellites provide crucial data on greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, desertification, soil degradation, ozone depletion, and other environmental issues.
This data can help scientists, policymakers, and the public to develop solutions and strategies to mitigate or adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Space exploration also helps us discover new sources of clean and renewable energy that can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and lower our carbon footprint. For example, NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the United States is developing fission surface power, a green technology that can generate electricity and hydrogen from nuclear reactions without producing any carbon emissions.
This technology can be used to power lunar bases, as well as remote communities and vehicles on Earth. Space exploration also inspires innovation and creativity, which can lead to new inventions and applications that can benefit the environment and humanity.
NASA has supported the development of advanced solar arrays that are lighter, more compact, and more efficient than conventional ones. These solar arrays can be used to provide reliable and sustainable power for space missions, as well as for disaster response and other Earth-based needs.
Nigeria’s space exploration can benefit the environment in many ways. Some of the possible benefits are monitoring and managing natural resources, Nigeria’s satellites can provide high-resolution images and data on land use, vegetation cover, water resources, mineral deposits, and other environmental factors that affect the country’s development. This can help in planning, implementing, and evaluating policies and projects related to agriculture, forestry, mining, energy, and conservation.
For example, the Nigeria-1 satellite has been used to map the Niger Delta region and assess the impact of oil spills and gas flaring on the environment.
Enhancing disaster management and response: Nigeria’s satellites can also provide timely and accurate information on natural and man-made disasters such as floods, droughts, fires, landslides, earthquakes, and conflicts. This can help in predicting, preventing, mitigating, and responding to such emergencies and reducing the loss of lives and property. For example, the NigeriaSat-2 satellite has been used to monitor the flooding situation in Nigeria and provide relief assistance to the affected communities.