Page 26 - hisdeSAT Annual Report 2017

2.2. EARTH

OBSERVATION

SERVICES

THE NATIONAL EARTH

OBSERVATION PROGRAMME

In 2007, the Spanish National Earth for multiple applications from its polar
Observation Satellite Programme orbit around Earth. The satellite was
PNOTS (Programa Nacional de Ob- launched on 22 February 2018 with an
servación de la Tierra por Satellite) American SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
was launched in the form of a part-
nership between the Ministries of Since its inception, the design and
construction of the PAZ satellite has
Defence and those of Industry,
been generating significant returns
Tourism and Trade.
within the Spanish aerospace indus-
PNOTS comprises two satellites, try for the 18 companies involved,
PAZ and INGENIO (currently un- allowing them to develop new capabi-
der development), using both lities which will improve their compe-
radar (SAR) and optic observa- titiveness in the international aeros-
tion technologies. It can cap- pace market. This new satellite also
PAZ can capture ture images by night and day, substantially improves the positio-
and independently of weather ning of Spain within the European Co-
more than 100 conditions. With this program- pernicus programme, the main initia-
images daily, with a me, Spain has become the first tive in the field of Earth observation
European coun-try to possess a led by the European Union and the
resolution of up to dual use system with dual obser- European Space Agency (ESA), and

25cm, both day and vation technologies. of which it is Contributing Mission.
night, and regardless Hisdesat is the owner and ope- The PAZ satellite covers the needs of
rator of the PAZ satellite, which various users. It can take more than
of weather conditions provides accurate information 100 images daily with a resolution of

PAZ SATELLITE IMAGE - MADRID SPAIN © HISDESAT 2018 PAZ SATELLITE IMAGE - IBIZA SPAIN © HISDESAT 2018

26
HISDE S AT ANNU AL REPOR T 2 017