SAR-Lupe.

Germany's second SAR-Lupe observation satellite was successfully boosted into orbit on 2 July from the Plesetsk space centre by a Russian Cosmos-3M rocket. SAR-Lupe provides high-resolution images of the ground 24 hours a day to the German Ministry of Defence. The SAR-Lupe programme, which has a life-time of 10 years, comprises a constellation of five identical small satellites (720 kg-250 W) which will be positioned into 3 quasi polar orbital planes at 500km altitude, and a ground segment. The construction and the launch contract of the five satellites was awarded in 2001 to a consortium of 13 European companies led by OHB-System AG as prime contractor. The first SAR-Lupe satellite was launched on December 19, 2006. It is supplying high-resolution images and is operating very successfully and reliably. Three more SAR-Lupe spacecraft are scheduled for launch at intervals of four to six months until the constellation is completed in 2008. This mission is based on the most sophisticated technologies in SAR radar field, able to get images under any weather or light conditions (day or night). The system will supply recent high-definition images of virtually any region in the world. It will provide images in X-band and offer a spatial resolution of less than 1 metre. It may operate in "spot light" mode to improve the spatial resolution. The ground segments for SAR-Lupe and the "French Helios II optical observation systems will be inter-connected, so that each country can use the other s satellite and receive imagery. This data combination will significantly improve the reconnaissance capabilities of the two partner nations.