International Security

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from International Security

Small Satellites, Big Data: Uncovering the Invisible in Maritime Security

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A set of NanoRacks CubeSats is photographed by an Expedition 38 crew member after the deployment by the Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (SSOD).
A set of NanoRacks CubeSats is photographed by an Expedition 38 crew member after the deployment by the Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (SSOD), February 11, 2014.

Summary

Even the biggest ships on the world’s vast oceans can be invisible, their identities, paths, and activities hidden. New technology is lifting the veil. Small satellites collect terabytes of global data daily, while advances in computational analytics now mine that data faster than any human can. Shedding new light on maritime activities affects policies on national and international security, safety, national and transnational economic interests, and environmental concerns.

Recommended citation

Saadia M. Pekkanen, Setsuko Aoki, and John Mittleman, "Small Satellites, Big Data: Uncovering the Invisible in Maritime Security," International Security, Vol. 47, No. 2 (Fall 2022), pp. 177–216, https://doi.org/10.1162/isec_a_00445.

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