SPOT (satellite)

SPOT (Système d' Observation de la Terre probatoire later: Satellite Pour l' Observation de la Terre ) is the name of a satellite system, developed by the French Space Agency CNES in France, along with Belgium and Sweden. Since 1986, the SPOT constellation provides high-resolution optical images of large-scale areas. SPOT 6 and SPOT 7 secure data continuity until 2024.

The company Spot Image Astrium in Toulouse ( France) marketed the images with an accurate on 8 meter resolution SPOT can record from almost any point on Earth.

Specifications

Satellite

The 1800 kg heavy Erderkundungssatellit SPOT 1 was launched on February 22, 1986 and shot the first pictures of the Earth in an orbit of 822 km altitude, which has sparked in this resolution quality until then no civilian satellite the ground before him. With two permanent working cameras SPOT 1 registered on Earth objects the size of a truck. Thus, the satellite was superior to the in use since 1972, the U.S. Landsat satellites. The corresponding image recordings were purchased by agricultural experts, geologists, urban planners, forecasters, governments, and other interested parties in 1986 by the company founded in 1982, Spot Image at a price of up to 1700 U.S. dollars. The advantage of SPOT 1 through its mobile cameras against the then most modern LANDSAT 5 was that this could photograph the same target on Earth in 2 to 3 days again while LANDSAT 5 required for this 2 weeks. For photos of LANDSAT were 5 to get 80 to 500 U.S. dollars.

On 22 January 1990 SPOT 2 was followed (which was already planned for 1988) and on September 26, 1993 SPOT 3, both of which are about 1800 kg. On 24 March 1998 launched SPOT 4 and last of the 3,000 kg SPOT 5 was born on May 4, 2002 shot into orbit by an Ariane 4 rocket. The dimensions of the satellites increased from 2 × 2 × 4.5 m for SPOT 1 up to 3.1 × 3.1 × 5.7 m for SPOT 5 at.

All satellites that orbit the Earth at an altitude of 822 km once entirely on a quasi- polar en, sun-synchronous orbit that is inclined 98.7 ° with respect to the Earth's axis, at 101.4 minutes. Every 26 days they take on the same territory. This repetition rate, however, can be increased, because the take-up direction can be inclined by ± 27 °. This also stereoscopic shots are possible.

SPOT 2 was taken out of service in July 2009. Through several orbital maneuvers the orbit was lowered so far that he will burn up in Earth's atmosphere later.

The launch of SPOT 6 took place on 9 September 2012; the identical SPOT 7 to be launched in the first quarter of 2014. [ deprecated] The about 710 -kg satellites are based on the satellite bus AstroSat 500 Astrium and will remain in operation 10 years. From its orbit height of 695 km and the orbital inclination of 98.2 ° ( with the two Pleiades satellites on the same orbit ), they provide images with a swath width of 60 km and a maximum resolution of 1.5 m. Overall SPOT 6 and SPOT 7 can accommodate a total of 6 million square kilometers per day at a repetition rate of one day. The two satellites are also very mobile and can be maneuvered from its position very quickly to any point within a radius of 1500 km.

Sensors

All SPOT satellites had or have two identical sensors on board, which can each be operated in different modes.

The sensors are:

  • SPOT 1: ( ) with HRV - XS ( multispectral ) and P - mode ( panchromatic)
  • SPOT 2: ( ) with HRV - XS ( multispectral ) and P - mode ( panchromatic)
  • SPOT 3: ( ) with HRV - XS ( multispectral ) and P - mode ( panchromatic)
  • SPOT 4: ( ) HRVIR with XI ( multispectral ) and M - mode ( panchromatic)
  • SPOT 5 HRG with HI ( multispectral ), HX ( multispectral ), HM ( panchromatic) and THR mode ( panchromatic)
  • SPOT 6 & 7: ( multispectral ) and ( panchromatic)

( ) Satellite no longer in operation

Satellite images for robust decision-making

SPOT satellite images are an affordable source of information for analysis, monitoring, forecasting and management of resources and the monitoring of the activities on our planet.

  • Mapping for civil and military purposes
  • Management of natural and man-made disasters
  • Insurance
  • Exploration of natural resources
  • Country planning
  • Agriculture
  • Construction
  • Conservation
  • Maritime surveillance
  • Geographic Information Systems

Another purpose

The satellites are in addition to research for the International Charter for Space and Major Disasters.

Multispectral image List of Earth observation satellites
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