Table of Contents

Satellite Communications

Orbital Needs of Canadian Telecommunications

Description of Activity

This resource examines the geo-political implications of using telecommunication satellites by having students represent countries with telecommunication interests in a negotiation or debate as to the use of the limited opportunities available on geostationary orbits.

Purpose

The purpose of this activity is to have students gain an appreciation for debate or negotiation when it comes to social consequences of using science and technology and the geo-political interests of different countries associated with telecommunications programs.

Preparation Time

• Time needed for students to research materials - approximately one week.
  
  
  • In-class time to work with partner preparing for the
    negotiation-approximately one half of a class period - 30 minutes.
    
    
• Debate - total of one class period 50 minutes.

Activity Time

• One class period of 50 minutes for the negotiation, or
  
  
• Up to three classroom periods of 50 minutes, depending upon the number of students for debate (unless additional resources to act as evaluators can be made available).
  
  

Materials

• Student resources from the resource
  Space Age Telecommunications in Canada - one per student group
  
  
• Student Sheets (attached) - one per student

Procedure

1. Research: Students need to research:
   
   
   • Communications satellites, Canadian and others with the goal of determining which groups own and operate the satellites and what groups contract for the services of the satellites.
     
     
   • What other potential uses for the geostationary satellite region there are and who uses them.
     
     
   • The physical placement of satellites and what happens to satellites at the end of their lifetime. Who is responsible for the allocation of geostationary satellite positions?
     
     
   • The amount of time needed to build and launch a satellite and the approximate cost.
     
     
   The student resources from the resource
   Space Age Telecommunications in Canada would be of benefit to give to students starting this research.
   
   
2. For the negotiation scenario, split students into groups of eight and then groups of two. Assign each pair one of the groups in the scenario.
   
   Negotiation Scenario: Four groups wish to place telecommunications satellites in geostationary orbit. There are two spots available. Each of the groups has government, commercial and military groups interested in having satellite telecommunications. The groups are from:
   
   
   • Canada
     
     
   • United States
     
     
   • Brazil
     
     
   • Consortium of Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Venezuela
     
     
3. For the debate scenarios, split students into groups of two. Half of the groups will argue the affirmative and half will argue the negative. The underlined phrases in the debate scenarios are terms that the affirmative side may (and should) define.
   
   

   Debate Scenarios:

   • Be it resolved (BIRT) that all countries, regardless of size should have equal access to the geostationary orbit for telecommunication purposes
     
     
   • Be it resolved that countries with advanced telecommunications equipment and capabilities should have preferential access to geostationary orbits for their own or commercial purposes.