Our system is composed of a space and a ground segment. Our space segment of five sun-synchronous Earth observation satellites are unmatched in their ability to provide large area, multi-spectral images with frequent revisits in high resolution.

The ground segment includes preprocessing and processing systems to handle customer orders, perform image data correction, generate standard and customized products and services, and manage the data archival catalog.

MacDonald Dettwiler, Ltd. (MDA), was contracted through the CCC to be our prime contractor for the satellite constellation, acquisition planning and data pre-processing systems.  MDA was responsible for all system engineering and program management tasks, and delivered a turn-key system after the satellites were orbited and tested. SSTL (Surrey Satellite Technology, Ltd.) and Jena-Optronik were subcontracted by MDA to construct the satellites and handle sensor assembly and delivery, respectively.

RapidEye benefits from a public-private partnership with the Space Agency of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), which is supported by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. RapidEye is also cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).  For more information about ERDF, please contact efreinfo@mw.brandenburg.de .