SPOT5: system overview and image ground segment

SPOT5, the fifth satellite of the SPOT remote sensing satellite family was successfully launched on the 4th of May 2002. SPOT5 is designed to ensure continuity of data acquisition and space image services but also to provide users with advanced products. It flies two identical cameras named HRG (High Resolution Geometry) providing a 2.5 m and a 5 m resolution in a panchromatic mode and a 10 m resolution in a multi-spectral mode, still keeping a 60-km ground field. Stereo application complements SPOT5 mission; the satellite flies a specific High Resolution Stereo Instrument (HRS) made up of two telescopes allowing a 20/spl deg/ fore view and a 20/spl deg/ aft view over a 120-km swath, sampling the landscape every 5 m. To be consistent with this new space segment, the image ground segment has been fully redesigned in order to allow worldwide SPOT family reception and products dissemination. The paper presents the mission, the image ground segment architecture and introduces the SPOT products.