Since the early 1970’s ,Europe has launched more than fifteen satellites to observe our planet’s oceans, land masses ,ice caps and atmosphere .Pioneering a new form of exploration ,these satellites have far exceeded their promoters’ expectations ,to the extent that they have generated applications that now become indispensable .The data produced by earth observation satellites is now widely distributed (often by other satellites ,and telecommunication satellites at that) and used in daily life to provide vital services. §1
Earth observation satellites have spawned a multitude of applications in a wide range of fields ,such as earth sciences , as well as environment monitoring ,meteorology and climatology ,natural resource management ,defense and security ,and risk prevention .These provided services are so important that all these pioneering satellites will have successors with the objective of maintaining and improving on their rich harvest of data. §2
(Adapted from Alcatel Telecommunication Review 2001)
Earth observation satellites have spawned a multitude of applications in a wide range of fields ,such as earth sciences , as well as environment monitoring ,meteorology and climatology ,natural resource management ,defense and security ,and risk prevention .These provided services are so important that all these pioneering satellites will have successors with the objective of maintaining and improving on their rich harvest of data. §2
(Adapted from Alcatel Telecommunication Review 2001)