ROOM
30
Astronautics
example is the drastic reduction of EO data imported
by China since it began operating its own high and
very high resolution satellites. Sooner or later, China
will enter the worldwide EOmarket as a new provider.
Key initiatives
Over the past decade, more than 33 projects for new
EO satellite constellations have been announced.
Although experts may remain sceptical of the
capability of these projects to become operational,
some initiatives are led by serious players.
The main technical challenge remains the size
and mass of the satellites: high resolution means
large imaging instruments.
Planet, (formerly Planet Labs) has put into
orbit nearly 150 cubesats with GSDs of between
Main EO
providers focus
on acquisition
capacity and
powerful
distribution
services
Integration of an optical
instrument on AstroBus-S
platform.
Airbus
The digital Earth
challenge.
