The dual-technology program addresses military and civil needs for European users, including mapping, volcano monitoring, geophysical and hydrology studies, urban planning, etc. The Pleiades project is part of ORFEO (Optical and Radar Federated Earth Observation), a joint Franco-Italian initiative by the countries’ national space agencies CNES and ASI, marking a major technological advance in optical earth observation systems. The Pleiades optical high-resolution imaging instruments offers enhanced resolution of
70 cm over a wide swath (20 km) in both the visible and near infrared bands. This very high resolution instrument also introduces significant innovations such as the highly-integrated detection sub-assemblies (SEDHI), while also reducing volume three-fold compared to previous generations. The instrument provides very high dimensional stability thanks to a concept combining a carbon/carbon structure (material insensitive to moisture and with a very low coefficient of thermal expansion) and Zerodur mirrors. To optimise in-flight performance, the instrument has an innovative thermal refocusing system, eliminating the need for a complex mechanism. All these high technologies plus the satellite’s own enhanced performance (satellite pointing/tilting capabilities, downlink transmission rate of 450 Mbit/s) means a significant increase in mission performances.
The first flight model instrument was delivered in July 2008 and has been integrated in the satellite. It is now to the second flight model instrument to start the integration campaign at Astrium’s facility in Toulouse. The two Pleiades observation satellites have a design life of five years and offer a high degree of in-orbit agility thanks to their maneuvering capability. They will be able to acquire a series of images both along the swath or across the swath to create a veritable mosaic of ground scenes. Images exploitation will be provided by Spot Image, subsidiary of Astrium.
