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Satellites Charts

Cinzia Bongino

#ArtificialSatellites #SpaceInfrastructure #RemoteSensing

“Satellites Charts” plots past and current artificial satellites orbiting around Earth, pointing out how our terrestrial life became so dependent on what we sent out in space.

“Satellites Charts” examines current and past artificial satellites orbiting around Earth, pointing out how our terrestrial life became so dependent on what we sent out in space. With topics ranging from space exploration to space pollution, communication, and warfare, the data visualization functions as an index to unlock related stories. More than eight thousand satellites are plotted on the chart: the data show how many satellites are still operational or decayed, who launched them, and in which years.

Displaying such information on a flat design allows the viewer to zoom in and out in time. In about 70 years of space history, we slowly built an extension of Earth's infrastructure above our head, an extra level of data collection and exchange. Satellites are essential technologies that must be constantly safeguarded, especially from human threats: jobs, services, social gatherings, transport, and communications are strictly dependent on the network of artificial bodies monitoring the planet. It is impossible to imagine our current living standards and global connections without the data transmission between satellites and Earth stations. This is what keeps the world spinning.
Explore more on www.satellitecharts.xyz
A legend explains the colours used to identify the status of each satellite. A close-up of the chart shows the satellites located in Low Earth Orbit. About 1,800 of those dots represent the Starlink satellite constellation. Another closer look at the chart
The chart is structured as a map. The viewer can zoom in/out on the single satellite stories or get insights about the research positioned along with the frame. The information, like for the chart, can be freely examined. A few dotted lines divide the research sections, but it is up to the reader to select topics of her interest.