More Satellites

SPOT 1 – 7 Satellites

SPOT satellite imagery goes back to 1986 with resolution ranging from 1.5-meter to 20-meter.

Sample imagery

Valencia_3_23_2021_S6_150cmcolor_ENHANCE

SPOT 6 1.5-m Natural Color–Valencia, Spain; March 23, 2021 View Full Size Image

The Satellite Advantage

Extensive Image Library

With an archive dating back to 1986, the SPOT satellites offer the most extensive historical collection of medium resolution imagery available anywhere.

60-km Wide Footprint

SPOT 6 is available for new collections. It is able to image sections of land 60-km wide on a regular basis for regional mapping, land-use land-class studies and monitoring.

Great for Greenery

The SWIR band on SPOT 4 and 5 make this medium resolution data particularly useful for vegetation, forestry and geosciences applications.

Improved Detail

1.5-meter SPOT 6 and 7 products are quite detailed with a lower cost per sq km than high-resolution data sources. In SPOT 6 and 7 imagery, you can see individual houses and even cars/trucks.

Overview & History

The SPOT constellation includes seven medium resolution satellites launched from French Guiana and India starting in 1986. Of the seven satellites put into orbit, two are still active: SPOT 6 and SPOT 7.

Now operated by Airbus Defense and Space, SPOT 6 and 7 feature panchromatic and multispectral (or blue, green, red and near-infrared/NIR) bands. Orbiting our planet at 822 kilometers (km), the SPOT satellites are able to image huge pieces of land each day with a footprint that is 60-km wide. The newest satellites, SPOT 6 and SPOT 7, collected a combined 6 million sq km per day – or an area twice the size of India every day!

Satellite Specifications

Spot 1
SPOT 1 Launch Details
  • Operational Dates: February 22, 1986, 01:44 UTC to November 2003 (start of de-orbiting); normal operations ceased September 1990, only intermittent use after that
  • Vehicle: Ariane 1
  • Site: Guiana Space Centre, Kourou, French Guiana
SPOT 1 Components
  • Dimensions: 2-m x 2-m x 4.5-m, 1,800 kg
  • Solar Array: 13,356 silicon solar cells, 15.60 m across when deployed, 1,100 W; 3 NiCd batteries, 24 Ah
  • Control Systems:
    • 3-axis stabilized
    • Actuators – three momentum wheels
  • Onboard Storage Capacity: two 60-Gbits recorders (~560 images)
  • Ground Communication Systems: 50 Mb/s, 8.253 GHz, X-band (imagery downlink)
  • HRV Focal Plane:
    • 2 identical pushbroom cameras, panchromatic or co-registered multispectral bands
    • 4 CCD arrays – 1,728 detectors per array, 1,500 detectors used per array, 13 µm detectors
    • Panchromatic mode – 6,000 pixels per line
    • Multispectral mode – 3,000 pixels per line
Orbit Characteristics
  • Altitude: 822 km
  • Period: 101.4 minutes
  • Orbit Velocity: 7.4 km/s
  • Inclination: 98.7°
  • Direction: sun-synchronous circular, north to south (across the lit side of Earth)
  • Equatorial Crossing Time: 10:30 AM local time (approximate; across lit side of Earth)
  • Revisit Frequency: 1 to 3 days (varies with latitude)
Imaging System
  • HRV Spectral Bands:
    • Panchromatic
    • 3-band multispectral (green, red and NIR)
  • Sensor Resolution:
    • Panchromatic – 10 m
    • Multispectral – 20 m
  • Spectral Band Wavelength Range: (in nm)
    • Panchromatic – 510 to 730
    • Green – 500 to 590
    • Red – 610 to 680
    • NIR – 780 to 890
  • Dynamic Range: 8-bits
Collection Capabilities
  • Footprint Width: 60 km
  • Size of Imagery Archive: nearly 3 million scenes
  • Maximum Angle of Incidence: +/- 31.06°
  • Maximum Stereo Capabilities: 10-m panchromatic across track pairs
  • Georeferenced Horizontal Accuracy: 350 m (global average, dependent on terrain)
Spot 2
SPOT 2 Launch Details
  • Operational Dates: January 22, 1990, 01:35 UTC to July 16, 2009 (start of de-orbiting); normal operations ceased early 1993 when the onboard tape recorders failed, could still image in ‘real-time’ when a downlink station was visible
  • Vehicle: Ariane 40
  • Site: Guiana Space Centre, Kourou, French Guiana
SPOT 2 Components
  • Dimensions: 2-m x 2-m x 4.5-m, 1,870 kg
  • Solar Array: 13,356 silicon solar cells, 15.60 m across when deployed, 1,100 W; 3 NiCd batteries, 24 Ah
  • Control Systems:
    • 3-axis stabilized
    • Actuators – three momentum wheels
  • Onboard Storage Capacity: two 60-Gbits recorders (~560 images)
  • Ground Communication Systems: 50 Mb/s, 8.253 GHz , X-band (imagery downlink)
  • HRV Focal Plane:
    • 2 identical pushbroom cameras, panchromatic or co-registered multispectral bands
    • 4 CCD arrays – 1,728 detectors per array, 1,500 detectors used per array, 13 µm detectors
    • Panchromatic mode – 6,000 pixels per line
    • Multispectral mode – 3,000 pixels per line
Orbit Characteristics
  • Altitude: 822 km
  • Period: 101.4 minutes
  • Orbit Velocity: 7.4 km/s
  • Inclination: 98.7°
  • Direction: sun-synchronous circular, north to south (across the lit side of Earth)
  • Equatorial Crossing Time: 10:30 AM local time (approximate; across lit side of Earth)
  • Revisit Frequency: 1 to 3 days (varies with latitude)
Imaging System
  • HRV Spectral Bands:
    • Panchromatic
    • 3-band multispectral (green, red and NIR)
  • Sensor Resolution:
    • Panchromatic – 10 m
    • Multispectral – 20 m
  • Spectral Band Wavelength Range: (in nm)
    • Panchromatic – 510 to 730
    • Green – 500 to 590
    • Red – 610 to 680
    • NIR – 780 to 890
  • Dynamic Range: 8-bits
Collection Capabilities
  • Footprint Width: 60 km
  • Size of Imagery Archive: 6.5 million scenes, 23.4 billion sq km
  • Maximum Angle of Incidence: +/- 31.06°
  • Maximum Stereo Capabilities: 10-m panchromatic across track pairs
  • Georeferenced Horizontal Accuracy: 350 m (global average, dependent on terrain)
Spot 3
SPOT 3 Launch Details
  • Operational Dates: September 26, 1993, 01:45 UTC to November 14, 1996 (altitude control failed)
  • Vehicle: Ariane 40
  • Site: Guiana Space Centre, Kourou, French Guiana
SPOT 3 Components
  • Dimensions: 2-m x 2-m x 4.5-m, 1,907 kg
  • Solar Array: 13,356 silicon solar cells, 15.60 m across when deployed, 1,100 W; 3 NiCd batteries, 24 Ah
  • Control Systems:
    • 3-axis stabilized
    • Actuators – three momentum wheels
  • Onboard Storage Capacity: two 60-Gbits recorders (~560 images)
  • Ground Communication Systems: 50 Mb/s, 8.253 GHz , X-band (imagery downlink)
  • HRV Focal Plane:
    • 2 identical pushbroom cameras, panchromatic or co-registered multispectral bands
    • 4 CCD arrays – 1,728 detectors per array, 1,500 detectors used per array, 13 µm detectors
    • Panchromatic mode – 6,000 pixels per line
    • Multispectral mode – 3,000 pixels per line
Orbit Characteristics
  • Altitude: 822 km
  • Period: 101.4 minutes
  • Orbit Velocity: 7.4 km/s
  • Inclination: 98.7°
  • Direction: sun-synchronous circular, north to south (across the lit side of Earth)
  • Equatorial Crossing Time: 10:30 AM local time (approximate; across lit side of Earth)
  • Revisit Frequency: 1 to 3 days (varies with latitude)
Imaging System
  • HRV Spectral Bands:
    • Panchromatic
    • 3-band multispectral (green, red and NIR)
  • Sensor Resolution:
    • Panchromatic – 10 m
    • Multispectral – 20 m
  • Spectral Band Wavelength Range: (in nm)
    • Panchromatic – 510 to 730
    • Green – 500 to 590
    • Red – 610 to 680
    • NIR – 780 to 890
  • Dynamic Range: 8-bits
Collection Capabilities
  • Footprint Width: 60 km
  • Maximum Angle of Incidence: +/- 31.06°
  • Maximum Stereo Capabilities: 10-m panchromatic across track pairs
  • Georeferenced Horizontal Accuracy: 350 m (global average, dependent on terrain)
Spot 4
SPOT 4 Launch Details
  • Operational Dates: March 24, 1998, 01:48 UTC to January 11, 2013 (end of commercial ops)
  • Vehicle: Ariane 4
  • Site: Guiana Space Centre, Kourou, French Guiana
SPOT 4 Components
  • Dimensions: 2-m x 2-m x 5.6-m, 2,760 kg (2,560 kg dry mass)
  • Solar Array: 5 panels, 8,640 silicon cells, 25 square meters total, 2,100 W, 160 Ah NiCd battery (total capacity)
  • Control Systems:
    • 3-axis stabilized
    • Actuators – three magnetic-bearing reaction wheels, two magnetic torquers
    • Altitude determination – four rate gyros, two Earth sensors, two sun sensors, DORIS in real time
  • Onboard Storage Capacity: two 120-Gbits recorders, 9-Gbit solid state memory (~1,160 images)
  • Ground Communication Systems:
    • Imagery downlink – 50 Mb/s, 8 GHz, X-band
    • TT&C transmissions – 4 kbit/s, 2 GHz, S-band
  • HRVIR Focal Plane:
    • 2 identical pushbroom cameras, co-registered panchromatic and multispectral bands
    • Panchromatic CCD detectors – one sensor assembly with four linear arrays, 6,000 total pixels
    • Multispectral/SWIR CCD detectors – four linear sensor assemblies, ten end-to-end bricks, 3,000 total pixels
  • Optical Sensor Assembly: 1.08-m focal length, 3.5 aperture
Orbit Characteristics
  • Altitude: 822 km
  • Period: 101.4 minutes
  • Orbit Velocity: 7.4 km/s
  • Inclination: 98.7°
  • Direction: sun-synchronous circular, north to south (across the lit side of Earth)
  • Equatorial Crossing Time: 10:30 AM local time (approximate; across lit side of Earth)
  • Revisit Frequency: 2 to 3 days (varies with latitude)
Imaging System
  • HRVIR Spectral Bands:
    • Monospectral (covers a smaller wavelength range than traditional panchromatic)
    • 3-band multispectral (green, red, NIR)
    • Shortwave infrared (SWIR)
    • There is also a 4-band 1-kilometer sensor, the Vegetation Instrument (the rest of the optical characteristics in this chart are tied to the HRVIR sensor)
  • Sensor Resolution:
    • Monospectral – 10 m
    • Multispectral + SWIR – 20 m
  • Spectral Band Wavelength Range: (in nm)
    • Monospectral – 610 to 680
    • Green – 500 to 590
    • Red – 610 to 680
    • NIR – 780 to 890
    • SWIR – 1580 to 1750
  • Dynamic Range: 8-bits
Collection Capabilities
  • Footprint Width: 60 km (120 km is possible)
  • Maximum Angle of Incidence: +/- 31.06°
  • Maximum Stereo Capabilities: 10-m panchromatic across track pairs
  • Georeferenced Horizontal Accuracy: 350 m (global average, dependent on terrain)
Spot 5
SPOT 5 Launch Details
  • Operational Dates: May 4, 2002, 01:31:46 UTC to March 31, 2015; last images on March 29, 2015
  • Vehicle: Ariane 42P
  • Site: Guiana Space Centre, Kourou, French Guiana
SPOT 5 Components
  • Dimensions: 3.1-m x 3.1-m x 5.7-m, 3,000 kg
  • Solar Array: 5 panels, 8,640 silicon cells (24 sq cm each), 25 square meters total, 2,400 W, 160 Ah NiCd battery (total capacity)
  • Control Systems:
    • 3-axis stabilized
    • Actuators – three magnetic-bearing reaction wheels, two magnetic torquers
    • Altitude determination – four rate gyros, two digital Earth sensors, DORIS in real time
  • Onboard Storage Capacity: 90-Gbit solid state memory (~210 images)
  • Ground Communication Systems:
    • Imagery downlink – 2 x 50 Mbit/s, 8 GHz, X-band
    • TT&C transmissions – 4 kbit/s, 2 GHz, S-band
  • HRG Focal Plane:
    • 2 identical pushbroom cameras, panchromatic and co-registered multispectral bands
    • Panchromatic CCD detectors – two rows of 12,000 detectors, each detector 6.5 µm across
    • Multispectral CCD detectors – single row of 12,000 detectors, each detector 13 µm across
    • SWIR CCD detectors – single row of 3,000 detectors, each detector 26 µm across
  • HRS Focal Plane:
    • 2 identical panchromatic pushbroom cameras, mounted at opposing look-angles (i.e. stereo)
    • Panchromatic CCD detectors – two rows of 12,000 detectors, each detector 6.5 µm across
  • Optical Sensor Assembly: 1.082-m focal length
Orbit Characteristics
  • Altitude: 822 km
  • Period: 101.4 minutes
  • Orbit Velocity: 7.4 km/s
  • Inclination: 98.7°
  • Direction: sun-synchronous circular, north to south (across the lit side of Earth)
  • Equatorial Crossing Time: 10:30 AM local time (approximate; across lit side of Earth)
  • Revisit Frequency: 2 to 3 days (varies with latitude)
Imaging System
  • HRG Spectral Bands:
    • Panchromatic
    • 3-band multispectral (green, red and NIR)
    • Shortwave infrared (SWIR)
  • HRS Spectral Bands:
    • Panchromatic
    • There is also a 4-band 1-kilometer sensor, the Vegetation Instrument (the rest of the optical characteristics in this chart are tied to the HRG/HRS sensors)
  • Sensor Resolution:
    • HRG panchromatic – 5 m (two images combined to create 2.5 m resolution with Trés Haute Résolution, THR, processing)
    • HRS panchromatic – 5 m (two images combined to create 2.5 m resolution with Trés Haute Résolution, THR, processing)
    • Multispectral – 10 m
    • SWIR – 20 m
  • Spectral Band Wavelength Range: (in nm)
    • HRG panchromatic – 490 to 690
    • HRS panchromatic – 480 to 700
    • Green – 500 to 590
    • Red – 610 to 680
    • NIR – 780 to 890
    • SWIR – 1580 to 1750
  • Dynamic Range: 8-bits
Collection Capabilities
  • Footprint Width: 60 km (120 km is possible)
  • Maximum Angle of Incidence: +/- 31.06°
  • Maximum Stereo Capabilities: 5-m panchromatic along track pairs, 600 km long strips, HRG sensors can produce across track pairs
  • Georeferenced Horizontal Accuracy: 30 m (global average, dependent on terrain)
Spot 6
SPOT 6 Launch Details
  • Launch Date: September 9, 2012, 04:23 UTC, first images October 17, 2012
  • Vehicle: Indian PSLV-CA
  • Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India
  • Designed Mission Life: 10 years
SPOT 6 Components
  • Dimensions: 1.55-m x 1.75-m x 2.7-m, 712 kg
  • Solar Array: GaAs triple junction solar cells, 5.4 sq m wingspan, Li-ion batteries
  • Control Systems:
    • 3-axis stabilized
    • Actuators – four control moment gyros (CMGs)
    • Altitude determination – GPS, Hydra star tracker, magnetometers (Earth and Sun sensors)
  • Onboard Storage Capacity: 1 TB Flash memory
  • Ground Communication Systems:
    • Imagery downlink – 300 Mbit/s, 2-channel, X-band
    • TT&C transmissions – S-band
  • NAOMI Focal Plane:
    • 2 identical pushbroom cameras, panchromatic and co-registered multispectral bands
    • Panchromatic array assembly – 28,000 pixels
    • Multispectral array assembly – 4 focal planes, 7,000 pixels per plane
  • Optical Sensor Assembly: 200-mm aperture diameter
Orbit Characteristics
  • Altitude: 694 km
  • Period: 98.79 minutes
  • Inclination: 98.2°
  • Direction: sun-synchronous circular, north to south (across the lit side of Earth)
  • Equatorial Crossing Time: 10:00 AM local time (approximate; across lit side of Earth)
  • Revisit Frequency: 1 (45°) to 5 days (30°) (varies with latitude), 1 day once SPOT 7 launched
Imaging System
  • NAOMI Spectral Bands:
    • Panchromatic
    • 4-band multispectral (bue, green, red and NIR)
  • Sensor Resolution: (at nadir)
    • Panchromatic – 2.2 m
    • Multispectral – 8.8 m
    • Imagery products delivered at a certified 1.5-meter panchromatic and 6-meter multispectral resolution by a splining function
  • Spectral Band Wavelength Range: (in nm)
    • Panchromatic – 450 to 745
    • Blue – 450 to 520
    • Green – 530 to 590
    • Red – 625 to 695
    • NIR – 760 to 890
  • Dynamic Range: 12-bits
Collection Capabilities
  • Footprint Width: 60 km (at nadir)
  • Maximum Angle of Incidence: +/- 45°
  • Maximum Collection Geometry:
    • Mono single strip – 60 km x 600 km
    • Mono large area – 120 km x 120 km, 60 km x 180 km
    • Stereo – 60 km x 60 km (tri-stereo mode available)
  • Retargeting Ability: 30° in 14 secs
  • Daily Collection Capacity: 3,000,000 sq km
  • Georeferenced Horizontal Accuracy: 35-m CE90 (global average, dependent on terrain)
Spot 7
SPOT 7 Launch Details
  • Mission Lifespan: June 30, 2014, 04:22 UTC to April 20, 2023
  • Launch Vehicle: Indian PSLV-CA
  • Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India
  • Designed Mission Life: 10 years
SPOT 7 Components
  • Dimensions: 1.55-m x 1.75-m x 2.7-m, 712 kg
  • Solar Array: GaAs triple junction solar cells, 5.4 sq m wingspan, Li-ion batteries
  • Control Systems:
    • 3-axis stabilized
    • Actuators – four control moment gyros (CMGs)
    • Altitude determination – GPS, Hydra star tracker, magnetometers (Earth and Sun sensors)
  • Onboard Storage Capacity: 1 TB Flash memory
  • Ground Communication Systems:
    • Imagery downlink – 300 Mbit/s, 2-channel, X-band
    • TT&C transmissions – S-band
  • NAOMI Focal Plane:
    • 2 identical pushbroom cameras, panchromatic and co-registered multispectral bands
    • Panchromatic array assembly – 28,000 pixels
    • Multispectral array assembly – 4 focal planes, 7,000 pixels per plane
  • Optical Sensor Assembly: 200-mm aperture diameter
Orbit Characteristics
  • Altitude: 694 km
  • Period: 98.79 minutes
  • Inclination: 98.2°
  • Direction: sun-synchronous circular, north to south (across the lit side of Earth)
  • Equatorial Crossing Time: 10:00 AM local time (approximate; across lit side of Earth)
  • Revisit Frequency: 1 (45°) to 5 days (30°) (varies with latitude), 1 day once SPOT 7 launched
Imaging System
  • NAOMI Spectral Bands:
    • Panchromatic
    • 4-band multispectral (bue, green, red and NIR)
  • Sensor Resolution: (at nadir)
    • Panchromatic – 2.2 m
    • Multispectral – 8.8 m
    • Imagery products delivered at a certified 1.5-meter panchromatic and 6-meter multispectral resolution by a splining function
  • Spectral Band Wavelength Range: (in nm)
    • Panchromatic – 450 to 745
    • Blue – 450 to 520
    • Green – 530 to 590
    • Red – 625 to 695
    • NIR – 760 to 890
  • Dynamic Range: 12-bits
Collection Capabilities
  • Footprint Width: 60 km (at nadir)
  • Maximum Angle of Incidence: +/- 45°
  • Maximum Collection Geometry:
    • Mono single strip – 60 km x 600 km
    • Mono large area – 120 km x 120 km, 60 km x 180 km
    • Stereo – 60 km x 60 km (tri-stereo mode available)
  • Retargeting Ability: 30° in 14 secs
  • Daily Collection Capacity: 3,000,000 sq km
  • Georeferenced Horizontal Accuracy: 35-m CE90 (global average, dependent on terrain)

Pricing

Below is the least expensive, highest resolution SPOT data offered. Prices increase for new collections, additional spectral bands, alternate data products and data processing. Note that academic and volume discounts are available.

Data Source:

SPOT 6 & 7

Minimum Order Size:

100 sq km (per area & date)

Product Type:

1:50,000 ortho + 1.5-m natural color

For an exact quote, please contact our Sales Team by email at sales@apollomapping.com
or by using our Request a Quote form.

Completing an atmospheric correction and/or radiance conversion of SPOT 6/7 imagery?

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