BackForward Satellite Programme: Satellite Pour l’Observation de la Terre - Follow-on 

Programme details
Programme description
  • Series of two operational satellites, for high-resolution land observation.
  • Commercial programme: SpotImage as part of the Astrium Division of EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company) responsible of design, development and operations.
  • The platforms are actively stabilised over 3 axes.
  • The design life time is 10 years.
  • The satellites exploit sunsynchronous orbits around 10:30.
  • System redundancy implemented through four satellites in coordinated orbits: SPOT-6. SPOT-7, Pléiades-1 and Pléiades-2.
  • See detailed description at http://www.astrium-geo.com/en/147-spot-6-7.
Data circulation
  • Selected images are stored onboard and downlinked to stations in Kiruna and Toulouse.
  • Real-time downlink to a network of appointed acquisition stations in X-band.
  • All data concentrated to the Centre d'Archivage et de Prétraitement (CAP) for processing and distribution.
Agencies Spot Image
Programme lifetime 2012 - 2026
Associated satellites and instruments

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