A newly launched satellite will track the flight paths of various animals, including birds, sea turtles, and insects, as part of the International Cooperation for Animal Research Using Space (ICARUS) project. After a pause due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the project resumed on November 28 with the deployment of the satellite aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
The ICARUS project, initiated by biologist Martin Wikelski in 2002, utilizes small transmitters attached to animals to monitor their movements and interactions. Ground-based receivers collect data transmitted by these tags, enabling researchers to conduct numerous scientific studies. By incorporating a receiver on a satellite, the project can now gather data from inaccessible areas like mountaintops, jungles, and remote regions.
The first space-based receiver was installed in 2020 on the International Space Station, successfully tracking animals like the common cuckoo bird. Following enhancements in technology, a smaller and more efficient receiver was developed and launched into space on November 28 alongside other CubeSats.
Efforts have also focused on reducing the size of animal transmitters, now weighing only four grams and capable of tracking even small creatures like songbirds. These transmitters provide GPS locations, behavior, health data, and environmental conditions faced by the animals, contributing to studies on environmental changes such as tree growth, ocean currents, and seismic activity.
Data from the satellite is transmitted to Movebank, a global database accessible to researchers worldwide. The ICARUS project aims to expand its satellite network by 2027 to provide comprehensive global coverage for real-time wildlife monitoring.
Understanding animal migration patterns is crucial, especially as human development threatens natural habitats. By studying how animals interact with their environments, researchers hope to preserve crucial pathways and ecosystems. Citizen scientists can contribute to the project through an animal tracker app, enabling the public to participate in monitoring and protecting wildlife.