BackForward Satellite Programme: RapidEye 

Programme details
Programme description
  • Constellation of 5 satellites for frequent land observation.
  • Originally a commercially-based German programme: owned and operated by RapidEye AG, Brandenburg (close to Berlin)
  • Since 2015 managed by Planet Labs Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA.
  • The platforms are actively stabilised over 3 axes.
  • The design life time is 5 years for individual satellites, 7 years until some satellite survives.
  • The satellites exploit a sunsynchronous orbit around 11:00, dephased by about 72° from each other.
  • In April 2020 Planet retired the constellation.
  • See description at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RapidEye
Data circulation
  • Data stored onboard and transmitted to a number of ground stations, including Svalbard.
  • Data processing and distribution from the Product Processing System (PPS) installed at the RapidEye Headquarters close to Berlin. Since 2014, by Planet Labs Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA.
Agencies Planet , DLR, RapidEye
Programme lifetime 2008 - 2020
Associated satellites and instruments

Note: red tag => no longer operational , green tag => operational , blue tag => planned