The RapidEye satellite system is composed of five identical earth observation satellites, and each of them is equipped with one multi-spectral imager from Jena-Optronik as the heart of the platform.

Covering the Earth’s surface continuously line-by-line (pushbroom principle) the imager of Jena-Optronik enables the precise data acquisition of an approximately 80 kilometres wide strip of land with a pixel size of 6.5 metres out of 630 kilometres. Working in five spectral channels, covering the wavelength range from visible to near infrared and will provide pin sharp multi-spectral and high resolution images. The formation of the satellite system enables a constant global coverage and therefore up-to-date information on a daily basis. Due to the high repetition rate the gained data provide important information in the field of environmental monitoring, landscape architecture or disaster management.

Beyond that there is going to be an increased commercial benefit for potential end users such as agricultural insurers, who need to forecast or report damages, institutions such as the EU, companies which trade in agricultural commodities and farm corporations that rely on precision crop management.

Jena-Optronik successfully continues its activities in the field of Earth observation instruments with a Jena Spaceborne Scanner for a SSTL-150 satellite platform by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. within the Kazakhstan ERS-MRES Project.