Write a summary “Information and communication technology” ICT, is evolving so rapidly that the need for a book to explain the fundamental concepts, introduce the existing technologies and applications, and touch upon the emerging technologies is becoming a must for academia, professionals, and for that matter anyone who is eager to know the trends and development of these technologies as they surface in our day-to-day lives. This book is intended to provide such information as well as a good understanding of the fundamental concepts while exploring their ever-expanding applications. ICT has impacted every aspect of our lives, and in this book its impact on education, government, health care, environment, commerce, agriculture, and employment is explored, and while giving an example of ICT in one of the developing countries, the emerging applications, some that are yet to be introduced in society, are discussed.

Space technology and application is another universe in and of itself which has always fascinated the author, so much so that most of my time during the last four decades has involved different aspects of the technology. How space was explored by humans, how it has expanded our understanding of the universe, and how it has impacted our lives in so many different ways are questions so immense that volumes of books are required to provide a comprehensive understanding of this technology and its applications.

I have tried to provide a good understanding of the history of space and space exploration and space-related activities worldwide while explaining its various applications within three major categories: application satellites, scientific satellites, and communication satellites.

Space has become a new platform for humans to carry out research work that is not possible to do on Earth. Other than discussing the existing applications of space technology, the book introduces what is on the horizon that perhaps the next generation will benefit from but which are now mere dreams or part of our imagination. Balancing the energy distribution worldwide through the use of satellites that collect solar energy and transmit it to different locations on Earth through microwave beams, or launching spacecraft into space without rockets are among such innovative ideas that are introduced to the readers.

The unique feature of this book is that it brings together the above two technologies (i.e., ICT and space technology) in order to demonstrate how powerful this blend of technologies could become to meet the challenges that are beyond the horizon and only new generations will be experiencing. Searching through the existing literature, although there is scattered information about the above technologies, there was no evidence of a single book xii Preface that covers such a wide spectrum of interrelated concepts and applications. This gave me the incentive to write this book.

This book is intended for college students, undergraduates as well as graduate students, professionals in space-related industries, engineers and technologists in telecommunication organizations worldwide, educators at various levels of lower and higher educational establishments, and anyone who is eager and interested in space science and technologies, its integration with ICT, and their combined impact on society.