PUTRAJAYA — Space technology must be made accessible so that the public understands its applications go beyond rockets, satellites or astronauts, as it has become an essential part of everyday management and daily life.

Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA) director-general Datuk Azlikamil Napiah said the ‘Space for All’ aspiration means that space technology should be accessible, understood and utilised by all segments of society.

“My aspiration is to see space technology brought closer to the people. We are already using it every day, but many are unaware of it. Telephone communication networks, television broadcasts, navigation applications such as Waze, as well as delivery service operations largely rely on space technology, particularly satellites,” he told Bernama recently.

He said public awareness of space technology is crucial to encourage the development of more operable systems or solution-based applications that can meet the actual needs of the people.

Azlikamil said as society becomes more aware of its benefits, demand for new application systems will increase, thereby driving innovation, expertise, industry growth and the development of the local space ecosystem.

He said space technology is not limited to observing outer space, but also helps humans manage life and resources on Earth through advanced systems such as communication satellites, navigation and remote sensing.

Satellite data, he said, can be utilised across various sectors including agriculture, fisheries, public health, disaster management, environmental monitoring, natural resource management and food security.