A summer morning in Kashmir begins like any other. Some people check the weather before leaving home. Others open a map to find the quickest route, make a digital payment, connect with family and friends or simply begin their day online. These everyday moments may seem routine, but they are made possible by technologies that often go unnoticed. Much of this invisible support comes from space. Satellites orbiting high above the Earth help us predict the weather, navigate with GPS, access the internet, make phone calls, watch television and respond more effectively to natural disasters. Quietly and reliably, they have become an essential part of modern life.

For generations, people associated space mainly with astronauts, rockets and missions to the Moon. Today, it has become much more than that. Space is now an important part of the global economy, supporting agriculture, healthcare, banking, transport, communication, education and scientific research. Experts believe this sector will continue to expand strongly. According to a joint report by the World Economic Forum and McKinsey & Company, the global space economy was valued at about 630 billion US dollars in 2023 and is projected to reach around 1.8 trillion US dollars by 2035. Lower launch costs, rapid technological progress and growing private investment are driving this remarkable expansion.

The benefits of space already reach almost every sector of society. Farmers use satellite images to understand crop health and water needs. Scientists observe rivers, forests, glaciers and coastlines from space. Weather experts rely on satellite data to improve forecasts and issue timely warnings. Communication satellites connect cities as well as remote communities. A large share of the information used to study Earth’s changing climate also comes from satellites. Without them, understanding weather patterns, changing temperatures and the health of the........

© Greater Kashmir