The fresh perspectives in the field of pollution monitoring have propelled the recent launch of TEMPO, a NASA device hosted on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida. This technological breakthrough brings about a new dawn in studying air pollution due to its capability of tracking it from space. It serves as an innovative eye, providing crucial data about air pollutants and their emission sources on a neighbourhood level.
Understanding TEMPO
TEMPO, short for Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring of Pollution, is crafted by NASA. Its core function lies in tracking air pollution across North America whilst being stationed in space. It displays an acute capacity to bring the emission sources of air pollutants to light, with a focus on the neighbourhood level. TEMPO incorporates a grating spectrometer which is sensitive to visible and ultraviolet light wavelengths.
Features and Design of TEMPO
TEMPO operates from an Intelsat communications satellite situated in geostationary orbit. This arrangement allows TEMPO to keep track of atmospheric pollution with a precise spatial resolution of 4 square miles or on a neighbourhood scale. This precision points towards the capability of analysing pollution levels at a granular level.
Applications and Significance of TEMPO
TEMPO’s applications sprawl across various sectors ranging from measuring the concentration of numerous pollutants, providing forecasts for air quality, to assisting with formulating strategies for controlling emissions. The need for such a device is pronounced considering that over 40% of the population in the US inhabits areas with alarming levels of particle pollution or ozone. Moreover, air pollution is held responsible for approximately 60,000 premature deaths per year which further underscores the importance of TEMPO.
Exploring Geostationary Orbit
A geostationary orbit signifies an orbit encircling the planet Earth, wherein the satellite’s orbital period matches the Earth’s rotation. This facilitates the satellite to maintain a fixed position relative to a specific point on the Earth’s surface. Set approximately 35,786 kilometers or 22,236 miles above the Earth’s equator, geostationary orbit is predominantly utilized for communication and weather observation satellites. This arrangement ensures uninterrupted coverage of a specified region without the necessity for frequent repositioning.
Linking Geostationary Orbit and Telecommunication
One of the crucial uses of geostationary orbit revolves around telecommunication relays via satellites. To explain further, a question from the UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ) reads as follows: “Satellites used for telecommunication relay are kept in a geostationary orbit. A satellite is said to be in such an orbit when: The orbit is geosynchronous. The orbit is circular. The orbit lies in the plane of the Earth’s equator. The orbit is at an altitude of 22,236 km.” The options provided were (a) 1, 2, and 3 only (b) 1, 3, and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3, and 4. The correct answer is option (a).