Can space tech save the planet? Astronaut Matthias Maurer joins Al Gore and other experts from space

How can space science help solve some of the biggest challenges back on Earth?

On the International Space Station, astronauts support these efforts to understand more about our planet through the experiments they conduct, explained ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer, dialling into the Davos Agenda session live from the International Space Station on Thursday.

The effects of life in space on astronauts can be significant, he added. But this impact can help scientists understand more about diseases that affect people on Earth.

The cross-country and international collaboration aboard the space station should also be a model for how we tackle major challenges on Earth - in particular, climate change.

But the reverse is also true. We need to learn from our mistakes on Earth to inform the future of space tech and space exploration.

And, as Al Gore, Vice-President of the United States (1993-2001); Chairman and Co-Founder, Generation Investment Management, explained, technology like the James Webb Telescope, will give us a chance to see into the distant past. But, it's up to us to "use our moral imagination to see the future of humanity and to see the grave danger posed by all the global warming pollution we’re putting into the atmosphere every day."

Space is increasingly crowded and commercialised, according to the World Economic Forum's latest Global Risks Report.

Just 3% of those surveyed for the report think that the global measures to manage the risks that come from this are effective.

As Carolina Klint, Risk Management Leader, Europe for report co-author, Marsh & McLennan, wrote for Agenda: "The diversification of actors is an exciting development but dated space governance frameworks are coming under considerable pressure, exposing fault lines between the ambitions of different players and the acceptability of their actions."

But effective management of these risks presents a significant opportunity, she believes.

These opportunities exist in a number of areas. for example, in tackling climate change, as Al Gore, explained.

If you consider something like GPS, it's also clear how quickly the opportunities offered by space tech and space exploration can become integrated into our lives, he added.

And access is increasing all the time thanks to significant falls in the cost of putting satellites into space, explained Chris Kemp, the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Astra. This has enabled a new generation of entrepreneurs.

But the data and knowledge that's gained from space should not be limited to those who own satellites, explained Sarah Al Amiri, the Minister of State for Advanced Technology, Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates.

And the volume of satellites means that regulation is important, explained Josef Aschbacher, the Director-General of the European Space Agency, echoing the message from the Risks Report.

You can watch the full session here.