Earth observation data payload ground segments at DLR for GMES

Abstract

The European Global Monitoring of Environment and Security (GMES) programme involves missions of the European Space Agency (ESA), EUMETSAT and also missions, originating from European national space agencies and private operators. These missions will be complemented by further missions from non-European operators to close gaps in data provision.The German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is involved in national and private missions contributing to the fleet of GMES satellites. Apart from operating as one of the major Processing and Archiving Centers (PAC) for the ESA EO Missions, DFD is developing the data payload ground segment for the German national missions TerraSAR-X, TanDEM-X and EnMAP. DFD is also operations partner of European Space Imaging, receiving, processing and distributing submetric Ikonos data. Likewise, it is partner of EUROMAP, ensuring the European coverage for Indian Earth Observation satellites such as ResouceSat and CartoSat. A brief description of the missions, its ground segment and significance for GMES is given.Harmonizing the availability of data and products for European GMES users and managing the various data and information flows within a heterogeneous and distributed data payload ground segment is a challenging task.