A European Mission For Continuity Of The Spot Family

Paper number

IAC-07-B1.I.05

Author

Mr. Eric Maliet, EADS Astrium, France

Coauthor

Mr. Bruno Montfort, France

Coauthor

Mr. Dominique Pawlak, EADS Astrium, France

Coauthor

Mr. Herve Lambert, EADS Astrium, France

Coauthor

Mr. Jean-Paul Gardelle, Astrium, France

Year

2007

Abstract

High resolution optical Earth observation data have now become a precious source for numerous utilisations, such as land mapping, urban planning, forest management, precision farming, environment monitoring, civilian security, defence,… Users rely for this on high quality panchromatic and multispectral images. This has been made possible through the parallel development of Earth observation applications and reliable and operational space sensors, such as the Landsat and Spot families. These operational systems are now over the end of their operational lifetime.
Follow-on missions are being proposed, but it is important for them to meet the following user-oriented features: to deliver high performance data and products with no service interruption, to provide data in continuity with current systems, and to provide a global and systematic access and coverage. Many institutional and commercial systems are currently flying or are planned for the next 10 years, but few of them meet all criteria, either because they favour very high resolution against coverage, or because they cannot guarantee an uninterrupted data delivery over 10 to 15 years. 
A large part of the users community requires continuity of Spot 5 high resolution 2.5 m data, over a large swath. This need is recognised as necessary in addition to the planned very high resolution Pléiades HR and by ESA/EC funded Sentinel-2 programmes. Astrium Satellites together with Spot Image are proposing system concepts to offer this data continuity and meet final users requirements. Thanks to their experience and heritage in the domain of mini- and micro-satellites, it is now possible to propose a system based on mini-satellites in the 400 to 500 kg mass range to provide 2 m images with the same dimensions as Spot 5 ones, and in a format which is fully compatible with the next generation of Earth observation satellites. Launching this satellite at the beginning of the next decade would provide the continuity with the successful Spot system required by many users.

Abstract document

IAC-07-B1.I.05.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-07-B1.I.05.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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