The Vegetation Programme

Summary:

Under human pressure, many changes are taking place in the resources and the environment of Earth. An increasing global population fuels the need for food, natural resources and land. Consequently, the need for maintaining a capacity to observe and understand the Earth system and the biophysical processes has become a key element for the sustainable management of the planet’s natural resources. The SPOT-Vegetation instruments have significantly contributed to reach this goal.

In 1977, France proposed to develop a series of Earth observation satellites aimed at taking images of the Earth in different light bands: SPOT. These high-resolution satellites were designed to improve the knowledge and the management of Earth’s resources by gathering data regarding agriculture, water resources, renewable and non-renewable fuels and contribute to a better understanding of the oceans, climate and erosion.

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