Spanish national programme for Earth Observation approved

Spain’s Ministries for Industry and for Defence agreed to invest 325 millions Euros for the launch of an ambitious national programme for Earth Observation per satellite to be operational as from 2012.
The specificity of this programme is that it will combine two satellites, one equipped with an optical sensor and the other one with a radar sensor. Thus it will allow a dual use for civil and military purposes, letting Spain become the first European country to dispose of a dual Earth Observation system expected to deliver far better results than with separated satellites. Orbiting at an altitude between 500 to 700 km, the optical satellite will allow to catcht daily some hundred images from every part of the Earth, the radar satellite being able to obtain sixty-four images per day even under bad atmospheric conditions.

Further to the numerous benefits to be gained for Spain, among others its independence in obtaining information, this programme is intended to improve the Spanish contribution to the European Earth Observation, namely the GMES initiative.

For more information: MITYC
and MDE

Author: EARSC