SPOT (satellite)
SPOT (Système Pour l’Observation de la Terre ) (lit. "System for Earth Observation") is a high-resolution, optical imaging Earth observation satellite system operating from space. It is run by Spot Image based in Toulouse, France. It was initiated by the CNES (Centre national d'études spatiales — the French space agency) in the 1970s and was developed in association with the SSTC (Belgian scientific, technical and cultural services) and the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB). It has been designed to improve the knowledge and management of the Earth by exploring the Earth's resources, detecting and forecasting phenomena involving climatology and oceanography, and monitoring human activities and natural phenomena. The SPOT system includes a series of satellites and ground control resources for satellite control and programming, image production, and distribution. Earlier satellites were launched with the ESA rocket launcher Ariane 2, 3, and 4 while SPOT 6 was launched by the Indian PSLV.
The company SPOT Image is marketing the high-resolution images, which SPOT can take from every corner of the Earth.
- SPOT 1 launched February 22, 1986 with 10 panchromatic and 20 meter multispectral picture resolution capability. Withdrawn December 31, 1990.
- SPOT 2 launched January 22, 1990 and deorbited in July 2009.
- SPOT 3 launched September 26, 1993. Stopped functioning November 14, 1997
- SPOT 4 launched March 24, 1998
- SPOT 5 launched May 4, 2002 with 2.5 m, 5 m and 10 m capability
- SPOT 6 launched September 9, 2012
Read more about SPOT (satellite): The SPOT Orbit, SPOT 1, 2, and 3, SPOT 5, SPOT 6 and SPOT 7
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