6 space technologies we can use to improve life on Earth | Danielle Wood

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Riky Liang

I was 17 when I chose my career.

我在十七歲時選擇了我的職涯。

I was standing outside

我站在室外，

on a hot summer night in Florida

那是佛羅里達的一個炎熱夏季夜晚，

and just a few miles from the ocean.

海洋就在幾英哩之外。

I was waiting for a miracle to happen.

我在等待一個奇蹟發生。

That summer, I was privileged to work as an intern

那年夏天，我有幸成為實習生，

at NASA's Kennedy Space Center,

在太空總署的甘迺迪太空中心工作，

and the miracle I was waiting for

而我在等待的奇蹟，

was the launch of the Columbia Space Shuttle

是哥倫比亞號太空梭的發射，

carrying the Chandra X-Ray Observatory,

太空梭載著錢卓拉Ｘ射線天文台，

a telescope that would allow scientists to peer into the edge of black holes.

這個天文台是個望遠鏡， 能讓科學家一窺黑洞的邊緣。

The entire sky filled with light.

整個天空被光照亮。

And it was as if it was daytime in the middle of the night.

好像半夜裡的白天。

Soon, we could feel the rumble of the engines vibrating in our chests.

很快地，我們的胸口就能夠 感受到隆隆作響的引擎在震動。

And it wasn't a miracle;

它並不是個奇蹟；

it was the combined effort of a team of thousands of people

它是一個千人團隊共同的努力，

who worked together

他們同心協力，

to make was seemed impossible a reality.

讓似乎不可能辦到的夢想得以實現。

And I wanted to join that team.

而我想要加入那個團隊。

So I decided to apply to a university where I could study aerospace engineering.

所以我決定要申請進入一間 有航太工程的大學就讀。

And the following year,

隔年，

I started at MIT in my engineering training

我在麻省理工學院 開始了我的工程訓練，

and joined a student project building space robots.

並加入了一個學生專案計畫， 打造太空機器人。

And everything was going as I planned,

一切都和我規劃的一樣，

except I was confused about something important.

除了，我對於一件 重要的事感到很困惑。

Now, my confusion arose in my summer breaks.

我的困惑是在暑假出現的。

I traveled to a school in Kenya,

我旅行到肯亞的一間學校，

and there I volunteered with girls ages five to 17,

我在那裡當志工， 幫助 5~17 歲的女孩，

giving them lessons in English and math and science.

教她們英文、數學，以及科學。

And they taught me songs in Swahili.

她們則教我唱斯華西里歌曲。

And mostly, I just spent time getting to know the girls,

通常，我的時間是花在 認識那些女孩上，

enjoying their presence.

享受她們的在場。

And I saw that these girls and the leaders in their community,

我看到，這些女孩以及 她們社區中的領導人，

they were overcoming important barriers

他們在克服重要的障礙，

to allow these girls to have the best possible chances in life.

讓這些女孩在她們的人生中 能夠有最好的機會。

And I wanted to join that team.

而我想要加入那個團隊。

I wanted to be part of a team that would help break down barriers

我想要加入的團隊， 是能夠協助破除障礙

and improve the lives of girls around the world.

並讓世界各地女孩的生活 能有所改善的團隊。

But I was worried that studying aerospace engineering

但我擔心，研讀航太工程

wasn't the most useful.

並不是最有用的。

I was worried this team in Kenya couldn't use the technology

我擔心在肯亞的這個團隊無法使用

I was learning about space.

我正在學的這種太空科技。

But thankfully, I still learned that I was wrong.

但，謝天謝地，我發現我是錯的。

I came back and interned at NASA again,

我回來並再次到太空總署實習，

and this time,

這一次，

a mentor taught me

一位導師教我，

that countries like Kenya had been using space technology for decades

像肯亞這樣的國家， 數十年來都在使用太空科技，

to improve the lives in their own countries.

用來改善它們國內人民的生活。

And then I knew that I could have a career in space

接著，我知道我的職涯 可以同時在太空領域，

and in development.

也在發展領域。

This idea is not new.

這個想法不是新的。

In fact, in 1967, the nations of the world came together

事實上，1967 年， 世界各國聚集在一起，

to write the Outer Space Treaty.

訂下了「外太空條約」。

This treaty made a bold statement,

這條約當中有段大膽的陳述：

saying, "The exploration and use of outer space

「外太空的探索與使用

should be carried on for the benefit of all peoples,

應該要為了人民的利益來進行，

irrespective of their level of economic or scientific development."

不論他們的的經濟或 科學發展程度如何。」

We have not truly lived up to this ideal,

我們尚未真正實踐這項理念，

although people have worked for decades to make this a reality.

不過數十年來人們 一直努力想讓它成真。

Forces such as colonialism and racism

有些力量，像是殖民主義、種族主義，

and gender inequality

以及性別不平等，

have actually excluded many people from the benefits of space

其實已經將很多人排除， 無法享受太空的益處了，

and caused us to believe that space is for the few

並讓我們相信， 太空是屬於少數人的，

or the rich or elite.

或屬於有錢人或菁英的。

But we cannot afford this attitude,

但我們不能有這種態度，

because the world is engaged in a vital mission

因為世界正在致力於 一項極重要的任務，

to improve life for everyone.

改善每個人的生活。

Our road map for this mission comes from the 17 Sustainable Development Goals

關於這項任務，我們的藍圖 來自於聯合國的第十七項

of the United Nations.

永續發展目標。

All the member states of the United Nations have agreed

聯合國的所有會員國都同意

that these are priorities between now and 2030.

這些是現在到 2030 年之間 要優先處理的議題。

These goals give us our key moments and opportunities of our time --

這些目標產生出了我們的關鍵時刻 以及我們這個時代的機會──

opportunities to end extreme poverty,

終結極端貧窮的機會，

to insure that everyone has access to food and clean water.

確保每個人都能取得 食物和乾淨用水的機會。

We must pursue these goals as a global community.

我們必須要以全球共同體的 身份來追求這些目標。

And technology from space supports sustainable development.

而太空科技能支援永續發展。

In fact, there are six space services

事實上，共有六種太空服務，

that can help us pursue the Sustainable Development Goals.

都能協助我們追求永續發展目標。

Over the next few minutes, let's explore these six services,

在接下來的幾分鐘， 咱們就來探究這六項服務，

and see examples of just a few of the goals they help support.

並用幾個它們協助 支援的目標來當例子。

You ready?

你們準備好了嗎？

OK.

好。

Communication satellites provide access to phone and internet service

通訊衛星

提供了在地球上幾乎任何地點的 電話和網路的服務

to almost any location on Earth.

This is particularly important during times of disaster recovery.

在災難恢復的時候， 這項服務特別重要。

When Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines,

當強烈颱風海燕襲擊菲律賓，

the local communication networks needed to be repaired,

當地的通訊網路需要被修復，

and teams brought in inflatable communication antennas

團隊帶了充氣式通訊天線到那裡，

that could link to satellites.

這些天線可連結到衛星。

This was useful during the time of repair and recovery.

在修復和復元的時期， 這是很有用的。

Positioning satellites tell us where we are

定位衛星

透過告訴我們它們的地點

by telling us where they are.

來告訴我們目前身在何處。

Scientists can use this technology to track endangered wildlife.

科學家可以用這項科技來 追蹤瀕臨絕種的野生動物。

This turtle has been fitted with a system

這隻烏龜被安裝了一個系統，

that allows it to receive location information from positioning satellites,

從定位衛星接收牠的位置資訊，

and they send the location information to scientists

這些資訊接著會透過通訊衛星

via communication satellites.

交給科學家。

Scientists can use this knowledge to then make better policies

科學家就能用這些知識 來創造更好的政策，

and help determine how to keep these animals alive.

並協助判斷要如何 讓這些動物生存下去。

Earth observation satellites.

地球觀測衛星

They tell us what's going on in our environment.

它們能告訴我們， 我們的環境發生了什麼事。

Right now, there are about 150 satellites

現在，大約有一百五十個衛星，

operated by over 60 government agencies,

由超過六十個政府機構在操控，

and these are just those observing the Earth.

這些只是用來觀測地球的衛星。

And meanwhile, companies are adding to this list.

這期間，公司也在把 這張列表繼續加長。

Most of the governments provide the data from the satellites for free online.

大部分的政府在線上免費 提供來自這些衛星的資料。

Some of these satellites provide images like this,

有些這類衛星會提供像這樣的影像，

that show what you would see from a camera.

這是你從相機看到的。

This is an image showing agricultural land in Kansas.

這個影像呈現的是堪薩斯州的農地。

However, the majority of the Earth observation satellites

然而，大部分的地球觀測衛星

don't take pictures at all.

完全不拍照。

They take measurements.

它們是在做測量。

And they combine these measurements with complex computer models

它們會把這些測量值和 複雜的電腦模型做比較，

and make beautiful, global visualizations such as this one,

然後做出漂亮的全球視覺化 影像，就像這張一樣，

showing the ocean currents

它呈現出來的是洋流，

and the temperature of the ocean, globally.

以及全球的海洋溫度。

Or we can look at the salt and smoke and dust in the atmosphere,

或者，我們也可以看鹽份、 煙，以及大氣中的塵土，

or the rainfall and snowfall, globally,

或是全球的降雨及降雪，

as well as the annual cycle of vegetation on land and in the ocean.

以及在土地上和海洋中， 植物生長的年循環。

Now, scientists can take this information about the rainfall and the vegetation

科學家可以取得這些關於 降雨以及植被的資訊，

and use it to understand

用這些資訊來了解

what areas on Earth are in danger of a famine or a drought

地球上哪些區域會有 饑荒或乾旱的危險，

and provide that information to aid organizations

並將這資訊提供給救援組織，

so they can be prepared with food aid before the hunger becomes severe.

這樣它們就可以在饑荒變嚴重 之前就先準備食物救援。

（微引力實驗）

In space, we have an orbiting laboratory on the International Space Station.

在太空中，我們有一間實驗室， 位在國際太空站上，繞著軌道運行。

The vehicle and everything inside are in a form of free fall

這飛行器以及裡面的 所有東西都是在地球周圍

around the Earth,

自由落體的形式，

and they don't experience the effect of gravity.

它們不會受到地心引力的影響。

And because of this, we call it "microgravity."

基於這個理由， 我們稱之為「微引力」。

When astronauts are in the microgravity environment,

當太空人處在微引力的環境中時，

their bodies react as if they're aging rapidly.

他們身體的反應就像是 他們非常快速地老化。

Their bones and muscles weaken,

他們的骨頭和肌肉會變弱，

and their cardiovascular system and their immune system change.

他們的心肺系統和免疫系統會改變。

As scientists study how to keep astronauts healthy in space,

科學家在研究如何讓太空人 在太空中保持健康，

we can take the exercises and techniques we use for astronauts

我們可以把太空人用的運動和技巧，

and transfer them to people on Earth

轉變為針對在地球上的人， 來改善我們在此的健康。

to improve our health here.

（太空副產品）

Often, as we develop technology for astronauts and exploration

通常，當我們為了太空人、太空探索，

or for spacecraft,

或太空船來開發技術時，

we can also transfer those inventions to improve life on Earth.

我們也可以移轉那些發明 來改善在地球上生活的健康。

Here's one of my favorites.

這是我的最愛之一。

It's a water filtration system,

它是個水過濾系統，

and a key component of it is based on the technology

其關鍵元件的設計依據， 就是太空站上

to filter wastewater on the space station.

用來過濾廢水的技術。

It's now being used around the world.

現在全球都在使用它。

Space is also an infinite source of inspiration,

（靈感） 太空也是靈感的無盡源頭，

through education,

透過教育，

through research and astronomy

透過研究和天文學，

and that age-old experience of stargazing.

以及那古老的眺望星星之經驗。

Now, countries around the world are engaging in advancing

現在，世界各國都致力於

促進它們自己的發展，

their own development

by increasing their local knowledge of engineering and science and space.

做法是增加它們對於工程、 科學，及太空的本地知識。

Let's meet some of the world's newest satellite engineers.

咱們來見見幾位世界 最新的衛星背後的工程師。

This is Elyka Abello, from Venezuela.

這位是艾莉卡亞貝蘿， 來自委內瑞拉。

Elyka is training as a satellite engineer

艾莉卡受訓成為衛星工程師，

as part of her national satellite program in Venezuela.

這是委內瑞拉的國家 衛星專案計畫的一部分。

She has designed a software tool

她設計了一個軟體工具，

that allows her team to better design the power systems for engineering.

讓她的團隊能把工程需要的 電力系統設計得更好。

This is Adel Castillo-Duran,

這位是艾黛爾卡斯提洛杜朗，

from the Philippines.

來自菲律賓。

Adel is both a meteorologist and a satellite engineer,

艾黛爾身兼氣象學家及衛星工程師，

and she uses data from satellites in her weather forecasting.

她把來自衛星的資料 用在她的氣象預報上。

And finally, meet Hala.

最後，見見哈菈。

Hala is from the Sudan,

哈菈來自蘇丹，

and as she was studying electrical engineering as an undergraduate

大學時，她讀的是電機工程，

in Khartoum,

地點在喀土木，

she and several students decided to build their own satellite.

她和幾個學生決定要 打造他們自己的衛星。

And later, Hala earned a scholarship to study satellite engineering

之後，哈菈取得了獎學金， 讓她可以去研究所

at the graduate level.

攻讀衛星工程。

These stories that I've shared with you

我和各位分享的這些故事，

all illustrate that space truly is useful for sustainable development

都說明了一件事：對於永續發展 而言，太空真的很有用，

for the benefit of all peoples.

能讓所有人都獲益。

But we have more work to do,

但我們有更多工作要做，

because there are still barriers that exclude people from space

因為還是有些障礙會 把人們排除在太空之外，

and limit the impact of this technology.

並限制了這項科技的影響。

For many people, Earth observation data is complex.

對許多人而言， 地球觀測資料很複雜。

And satellite communication services are too expensive.

而衛星通訊服務太昂貴。

And microgravity research just appears to be inaccessible.

而微重力研究實在 顯得很不平易近人。

This is what motivates my work as a professor at MIT's Media Lab.

就是這個原因，驅使我 現在以教授的身份

在麻省理工學院媒體 實驗室中所進行的工作。

I've recently founded a new research group called Space Enabled.

最近我創建了一個新的研究團體， 叫做「 Space Enabled」。

We are working to tear down these barriers that limit the benefits of space.

我們正在努力破除這些障礙， 不讓它們再限制太空帶來的益處。

And we're also going to develop the future applications

我們也將會開發未來的應用，

that will continue to contribute to sustainable development.

這些應用將持續 對永續發展做出貢獻。

We'll keep on this work

我們會讓這項工作延續，

until we can truly say that space is for the benefit of all peoples,

直到我們真正能夠說： 太空帶來的益處是給所有人的，

and we are all space enabled.

且我們所有人都可以使用太空。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）