DMC: a network of economical space assets serving Member’s national needs, generating commercial returns, and responding to international Disasters.
- Paper number
IAC-05-B5.1.04
- Author
Mr. Paul Stephens, United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Mr. David Hodgson, DMC International Imaging Ltd., United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Prof. Martin Sweeting, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., United Kingdom
- Year
2005
- Abstract
The Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) provides independent daily imaging capability to Consortium Member nations; Algeria, Nigeria, Turkey, UK and China. During this year the DMC has served the needs of the Members in many applications including agriculture, forestry, and disaster response. At the beginning of 2005, the DMC responded rapidly to the Indian Ocean Tsunami, providing daily images to support the logistics of disaster relief. Small satellites from new space nations delivered a unique capability to support other nations, and the DMC has contributed its capability to disaster relief by joining International Charter; Space and Major Disasters. The DMC Consortium has also established a commercial outlet for DMC data through DMC International Imaging Ltd. The availability of medium resolution multispectral imagery at a GSD of 32 metres with the unique capabilities of 600km wide swath and daily revisit has generated considerable uptake from the market. This paper will review the current status of the DMC and how it serves its Member developing space nations and discusses the opportunity for extending this capability to a wider international group to create a sustainable space service for developing nations.
- Abstract document