From image processing concepts to instrument design in remote sensing satellites

Through two examples drawn from the French National Earth Observation programme: Spot-5 and Pleiades-HR, the paper illustrates the dramatic impact of image processing techniques on the performances and sizing of remote sensing missions. In the Spot-5 case, improved performances have been achieved with minimal modifications on an already designed instrument. Pleiades-HR is a new development for which a global optimization can be carried out from the start.