DailyDirt: Satellites Looking Down On Us

It used to be only the people wearing tinfoil hats that were worried about satellites flying above us all the time. However, satellite technology is getting cheaper and easier to access, and more satellites are looking down at us than are looking at the stars. No one should be worried about a bunch of Helicarriers targeting everyone just yet, but we're making progress towards a sky filled with some pretty advanced technology.

• China is building yet another GPS network called Beidou. The US has GPS. Russia has GLONASS. The EU has Galileo. Do we really need another one? [url]
• Nanosatellites could provide an always-on connection for ground sensors, making disaster relief efforts more efficient and providing tons of useful data. Terran Orbital wants tiny satellites orbiting at 600 km above us to provide reliable (not necessarily fast) wireless connections to all kinds of devices. [url]
• Satellite imagery can be used for a bunch of business intelligence services. Retail parking lots can be monitored during prime purchasing seasons. Mining operations and construction projects could be tracked to ensure foreign companies are making the progress they say they're making. (And drones will be spying on everyone!) [url]

After you've finished checking out those links, take a look at our Daily Deals for cool gadgets and other awesome stuff.

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