A Path to Resource Optimization and Technological Innovation: Advancing Space and Climate Research with Bidirectional Technologies

TL;DR

This paper proposes Bidirectional Technologies (BiTs) as innovative solutions addressing interconnected challenges in space and climate sectors, aiming to enhance sustainability and technological progress through cross-domain applications.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of BiTs, analyzes challenges across Earth and space sectors, and provides actionable recommendations for developing technologies that serve both domains.

Findings

Identified shared challenges in Earth and space sectors.

Developed traits influencing BiT development.

Proposed strategies for cross-domain technological innovation.

Abstract

This paper introduces Bidirectional Technologies (BiTs), which is defined as technology that addresses the challenges within the aerospace and climate sectors simultaneously. BiTs presents a means to meet global development agendas, in particular, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Space2030 Agenda. These frameworks position aerospace innovations as tools to address climate change, explicitly highlighting the shared challenges between both fields. This overlap presents an underexplored opportunity to develop BiTs. To explore this potential, the study conducts an extensive literature review to examine the challenges within four categories in both Earth and space contexts: life support, energy systems, monitoring and exploratory systems, and novel technologies. Key traits that influence the successful development of BiTs are then extracted. Based on these traits, a set of actionable recommendations is proposed to serve as a starting point for policymakers and engineers to adapt technologies beyond single-domain applications. Ultimately, this study presents BiTs as a solution to the interconnected challenges on Earth and in space, offering strategies that advance innovation while contributing to global sustainability efforts.