Earth Observation: How Satellites Changed Our World | Full Documentary

From weather and navigation to disaster response and climate science—satellites turned Earth into data.
In this documentary, astronaut Prof. Ulrich Walter shows how modern Earth observation works: optical cameras, radar (SAR), multispectral/hyperspectral sensors and drones mapping our planet with astonishing precision—transforming science, business, and everyday life.

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What You’ll See

Orbits & coverage: LEO, MEO, GEO—why revisit time and latency matter

Sensors 101: optical imaging, SAR radar, multispectral/hyperspectral & thermal

Quake & deformation mapping: InSAR measurements to centimeter scale

From Humboldt to “Digital Earth”: how field expeditions became global, 24/7 mapping

Real-world uses: agriculture & drought, deforestation, wildfire, floods, sea ice, ships-at-sea

Telecom & navigation: the satellite backbone for internet, TV, and timing (GNSS)

Data to decisions: open programs (Copernicus/Sentinel, Landsat), commercial constellations & AI analytics

Risks & ethics: privacy, big data, sovereignty—and the space debris problem

Chapters
0:00 Why Satellites Matter
2:40 Orbits & Constellations: Coverage & Revisit
6:10 Sensors: Optical, SAR & Spectral Bands
10:00 Quake Mapping: InSAR & Deformation
13:30 Agriculture, Forests & Water from Space
17:10 Weather, Climate & Environmental Watch
20:30 Connectivity & Navigation from Orbit
24:00 Ground Segment: Downlink, Processing & AI
27:30 Privacy, Policy & Space Debris
31:00 What’s Next: Smarter Sensors & Cleaner Orbits

Details & Keywords
Earth observation documentary, remote sensing, satellites, SAR, InSAR, multispectral, hyperspectral, thermal imaging, Copernicus, Sentinel, Landsat, GNSS, GPS, telecom satellite, LEO constellation, GEO satellite, drones, ground stations, data downlink, big data, privacy, disaster response, climate monitoring, mapping, full documentary

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