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Just days after its successful launch on Dec. 2, 2012, the advanced sensors on board the French Pléiades 1B Earth observation satellite are collecting some amazingly vivid Earth images.
The Pléiades 1B satellite will be phased 180 degrees with Pléiades 1A on the same orbit to form a true constellation, offering daily revisits to any point on the globe. Pléiades 1B's launch marks the third step in the formation of a constellation of four satellites, combining a double daily revisit capability and a range of resolutions.
Beginning in 2014, with the launch of the SPOT 7 satellite, the constellation will be complete, comprising Pléiades 1A and Pléiades 1B, delivering 50-cm imagery products, and SPOT 6 and SPOT 7, which are designed to assure continuity of service after SPOT 5 and supply 1.5-meter data products. SPOT 6 was launched on Sept. 9, 2012. Astrium Services is the exclusive distributor of data and geo-information products from this unique constellation.
Image courtesy of Astrium Services/Spot Image S.A.
View more images from the recently launched Pléiades 1B satellite.
