Earth Observation from Space Optical and Radar Imagery – A European Success

Publié dans : Satellite d'application,

English Version of the book « Observation spatiale de la Terre Optique et Radar – La France et l’Europe Pionnières (1960-2010) »

Every day, dozens of Earth-observing satellites supply images and information. They play an essential role in civilian and defence applications. For the monitoring and management of continental or coastal, urban or agricultural territories, they provide frequent, relevant information on different space and time scales. Europe was not the first to assess the potential of satellite-based observation in the early days, but the enterprising initiatives soon put in place by France, the European space agency, and other European states, have today carried it to the highest levels.

There was a paradigm change when the two main space powers were no longer the only ones to be able to obtain intelligence through spaceborne observation systems. Programmes like Pleiades and others give users acccess to one-metre ground resolutions. A market has been created for high resolution radar and optical satellite imagery, largely covred by the private sector. European space industries now play a leading role in the exportation of observation systems.

With the Copernicus programme, funded by the European Union and including a large initial contribution from ESA, the continuity of satellite missions and guaranteed access to data should lead to an increase in the number of operational applications and theirs users. Europe has thus clearly shown its desire to contribute to a safe use of resources and close monitoring of the environment.

The present book goes back over the first fifty years of the Earth observation adventure. It was written by key people who were actively involved in France and Europe. They describe the technical progress, the political decisions, and the geopolitical and legal contexts needed to reach the situation we are today and to prepare for tomorrow. The many first-hand accounts included in the book remind us of the skill, enthusiasm, and determination of those in France and Europe who provided the driving force to design and implement projects of such importance on the international level.

Editeurs: Tessier & Ashpool – Institut français d’Histoire de l’Espace     ISBN: 2-909467-16-3

Contents

• Foreword: Steering Committee
• Preface: Yves Sillard
• Statement: Josef Aschbacher

Part 1 – The beginnings 1960-1976

• Introduction
• Space, a new strategic area of defence
• Scientists and future users rally round
• Earth observation satellites: France takes the initiative
• Europe enters the scene: first steps  and programmes
• Overview of initial studies and exploratory technologies

Part 2 – Projects become reality 1977-1986

• Introduction
• The civilian sector, fromSPOT to ERS
• The defence sector, for the SAMRO project to the decision to go ahead with Helios
• The main technological choices for high resolution observation satellites
• International cooperation cooperation gets on the move
• A legal framework for Earth observation

Part 3 – Implementation and expansion 1986-1995

• Introduction
• Exploitation of the first SPOT satellites and ESA’s two ERS satellites
• Development of international relations and partnerships
• The European Union enters the scene
• Exporting receiving stations and processing systems
• The Helios I programme
• Evolution of European defence and satellite observation
• Definition and preparation of the next generation of European observation satellites
• A diversification of intiatives and the increasing role of industry

Part 4 – A revolution: Very high-resolution imagery becomes widely available 1994-2010

• Introduction
• A major change in the political context and the advent of commercial observation observation satellites
• The Internet revolution and exploitation of SPOT-4 and 5
• Developments and technological breakthroughs
• The exploitation of Envisat from March 2002 to April 2012
• Birth and implementation of GMES/Copernicus
• The age of services and integrated applications
• Trends in defence needs and policies from 1996 to 2010
• French Exports of Earth observation satellite systems

Conclusion – Review and prospects

Appendices