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News - Infographics
An overview of ESA's Third Party Missions programme
ESA’s Third Party Missions programme consists of almost 50 satellite missions, which are owned by organisations around the world. ESA has agreements with these organisations to acquire, process, and distribute data from their missions
Tools - Other
Forestry TEP
The Forestry Thematic Exploitation Platform (TEP) enables users in the forestry sector to access satellite data based processing services and tools for generating value-added forest information products.
News - Thematic area articles
Global understanding of Earth's land surfaces greatly boosted by satellite data
ESA perform land surface monitoring with a range of instruments onboard satellites acquiring optical and radar data. Collections of data from these missions are freely available for research purposes.
News - General News
Go-to guide to Third Party Mission data offering
ESA’s latest Third Party Missions Data Access Guide has been published, providing technical details and information on available data collections for all current or past Third Party Missions.
News - Thematic area articles
How satellite data help to shape society
Data from ESA’s Earth observation archives are improving understanding of the interactions between human activities and the environment, helping to power green economic development and boosting prosperity in Europe and beyond.
News - Thematic area articles
How to use space data to probe humankind’s ancient past
Data disseminated by ESA’s Third Party Missions (TPM) programme are enabling archaeological investigations that could help to unravel the mysteries of past societies and cultures.
Event - Conference
Living Planet Symposium 2019
ESA's Living Planet Symposia are amongst the biggest Earth observation conferences in the world. Scientists present their latest findings on Earth's environment and climate.
Event - Conference
Living Planet Symposium 2022
Learn about the 2022 edition of ESA's Living Planet Symposium.
News - Success Stories
New open-source Python library improves rapid mapping services
In emergency services, rapid response is paramount. ICube-SERTIT’s Rapid Mapping Service provides near real-time delivery of geo-information to help emergency services respond quickly to disasters such as flooding, fires and landslides. A new Python open-source library, called EOReader, speeds up this mapping response by enabling the easy opening of imagery from multiple satellite sensors, both optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR).
Mission - Third Party Missions
PlanetScope
The PlanetScope satellite constellation consists of multiple launches of groups of individual cubesats (Doves and SuperDoves).
News - Infographics
PlanetScope and SkySat - The high-resolution nanosatellite constellation
Find out more about the PlanetScope and SkySat missions in our new infographic.
News - Data Release news
PlanetScope and Skysat data available through ESA’s Third Party Missions Programme
Through ESA’s Third Party Missions Programme, researchers, scientists and companies from around the world can apply to access Planet’s high-frequency, high-resolution satellite data for non-commercial use.
News - Data Release news
PlanetScope and SkySat data now available
PlanetScope and SkySat missions under evaluation. Interested users can investigate suitability of the data for scientific and R&D activities.
Data - Fast Registration with approval (Restrained)
PlanetScope ESA archive
The PlanetScope ESA archive collection consists of PlanetScope products requested by ESA supported projects over their areas of interest around the world and that ESA collected over the years. The dataset regularly grows as ESA collects new products. Three product lines for PlanetScope imagery are offered, for all of them the Ground Sampling Distance at nadir is 3.7 m (at reference altitude 475 km). EO-SIP Product Type Product description Processing Level PSC_DEF_S3 3 bands – Analytic and Visual - Basic and Ortho Scene level 1B and 3B PSC_DEF_S4 4 bands – Analytic and Visual - Basic and Ortho Scene level 1B and 3B PSC_DEF_OT 3 bands, 4 bands and 5 bands – Analytic and Visual - Ortho Tile level 3A The Basic Scene product is a single-frame scaled Top of Atmosphere Radiance (at sensor) and sensor-corrected product. The product is not orthorectified or corrected for terrain distortions, radiometric and sensor corrections are applied to the data. The Ortho Scenes product is a single-frame scaled Top of Atmosphere Radiance (at sensor) or Surface Reflectance image product. The product is radiometrically, sensor and geometrically corrected and is projected to a cartographic map (UTM/WGS84). The Ortho Tiles are multiple orthorectified scenes in a single strip that have been merged and then divided according to a defined grid. Radiometric and sensor corrections are applied, the imagery is orthorectified and projected to a UTM projection. Spatial coverage: Check the spatial coverage of the collection on a map available on the Third Party Missions Dissemination Service. As per ESA policy, very high-resolution imagery of conflict areas cannot be provided.
Data - Project Proposal (Restrained)
PlanetScope Full Archive
The PlanetScope Level 1B Basic Scene and Level 3B Ortho Scene full archive products are available as part of Planet imagery offer. The Unrectified Asset: PlanetScope Basic Analytic Radiance (TOAR) product is a Scaled Top of Atmosphere Radiance (at sensor) and sensor corrected product, without correction for any geometric distortions inherent in the imaging processes and is not mapped to a cartographic projection. The imagery data is accompanied by Rational Polynomial Coefficients (RPCs) to enable orthorectification by the user. This kind of product is designed for users with advanced image processing and geometric correction capabilities. Basic Scene Product Components and Format Product Components Image File (GeoTIFF format) Metadata File (XML format) Rational Polynomial Coefficients (XML format) Thumbnail File (GeoTIFF format) Unusable Data Mask UDM File (GeoTIFF format) Usable Data Mask UDM2 File (GeoTIFF format) Bands 4-band multispectral image (blue, green, red, near-infrared) or 8-band (coastal-blue, blue, green I, green, yellow, red, Rededge, near-infrared) Ground Sampling Distance Approximate, satellite altitude dependent Dove-C: 3.0 m-4.1 m Dove-R: 3.0 m-4.1 m SuperDove: 3.7 m-4.2 m Accuracy <10 m RMSE The Rectified assets: The PlanetScope Ortho Scene product is radiometrically-, sensor- and geometrically- corrected and is projected to a UTM/WGS84 cartographic map projection. The geometric correction uses fine Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) with a post spacing of between 30 and 90 metres. Ortho Scene Product Components and Format Product Components Image File (GeoTIFF format) Metadata File (XML format) Thumbnail File (GeoTIFF format) Unusable Data Mask UDM File (GeoTIFF format) Usable Data Mask UDM2 File (GeoTIFF format) Bands 3-band natural colour (red, green, blue) or 4-band multispectral image (blue, green, red, near-infrared) or 8-band (coastal-blue, blue, green I, green, yellow, red, RedEdge, near-infrared) Ground Sampling Distance Approximate, satellite altitude dependent Dove-C: 3.0 m-4.1 m Dove-R: 3.0 m-4.1 m SuperDove: 3.7 m-4.2 m Projection UTM WGS84 Accuracy <10 m RMSE PlanetScope Ortho Scene product is available in the following: PlanetScope Visual Ortho Scene product is orthorectified and colour-corrected (using a colour curve) 3-band RGB Imagery. This correction attempts to optimise colours as seen by the human eye providing images as they would look if viewed from the perspective of the satellite. PlanetScope Surface Reflectance product is orthorectified, 4-band BGRN or 8-band Coastal Blue, Blue, Green I, Green, Yellow, Red, RedEdge, NIR Imagery with geometric, radiometric and corrected for surface reflection. This data is optimal for value-added image processing such as land cover classifications. PlanetScope Analytic Ortho Scene Surface Reflectance product is orthorectified, 4-band BGRN or 8-band Coastal Blue, Blue, Green I, Green, Yellow, Red, RedEdge, NIR Imagery with geometric, radiometric and calibrated to top of atmosphere radiance. As per ESA policy, very high-resolution imagery of conflict areas cannot be provided.
News - Success Stories
Predicting crop yield using Planet data
The world’s population continues to grow, while the climate crisis is raising Earth’s temperatures and increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events – all of which affect food security.
Mission - Earth Watch
PROBA-V
The PROBA-V mission provides multispectral images to study the evolution of the vegetation cover on a daily and global basis.
Data - External Data (Restrained)
PROBA-V 1 km, 333 m, and 100 m products
The PROBA-V VEGETATION Raw products and Synthesis products provided coverage of all significant landmasses worldwide with, in the case of a 10-day synthesis product, a minimum effect of cloud cover, resulting from selection of cloud-free acquisitions during the 10-day period. It provided a daily coverage between Latitudes 35°N and 75°N, and between 35°S and 56°S, and a full coverage every two days at the equator. The VEGETATION instrument was pre-programmed with an indefinite repeated sequence of acquisitions. This nominal acquisition scenario allowed a continuous series of identical products to be generated, with the goal to map land cover and vegetation growth across the entire planet every two days. Level Synthesis Resolution resolution (m) Reflectance Level-1C n/a TOA Level-2A n/a 100 m TOA 333 m TOA 1 km TOA Level-3 S1 100 m TOA TOC TOC NDVI 333 m TOA TOC 1 km TOA TOC S5 100 m TOA TOC TOC NDVI S10 333 m TOC TOC NDVI 1 km TOC TOC NDVI Raw Products Overview Product Description Level-1C Level-1C segments (P – product): Radiometrically corrected Level-1B data, in raw sensor geometry (unprojected) Contains: - Top Of Atmosphere reflectance in the four spectral bands - Longitude/latitude information for every pixel - Geometric viewing conditions - Information on the status map (indicating missing and interpolated measurements). Format: HDF5 & GeoTiFF Level-2A Level-2A segment: projected Level-1C (P–product) data, radiometrically and geometrically corrected. Contains: - TOA reflectance values in the four spectral bands without atmospheric correction being performed - Information on the status map (containing identification of radiometric quality, snow, ice, shadow, clouds, land/sea for every pixel) - Geometric viewing conditions Plate carrée projection (EPSG:4326) with spatial resolution of 100 m, 333 m and 1 km Format: HDF5 & GeoTiFF Synthesis Products Overview Level-3 S1 = daily, S5 = 5 days, S10 = decade Different spatial resolution: 100 m, 333 m and 1 km Divided into so called granules, each measuring 10 degrees x 10 degrees, each granule being delivered as a single file Plate carrée projection (EPSG:4326) Format: HDF5 & GeoTiFF Products Content TOA - Top Of Atmosphere reflectance in the four spectral bands (no atmospheric correction applied) - Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) -Information on the composite status map (containing identification of snow, ice, shadow, clouds, land/sea for every pixel) - Geometric viewing conditions & date and time of selected measurement TOC Level-2A segment: projected Level-1C (P–product) data, radiometrically and geometrically corrected. Contains: - Top Of Canopy (ground surface) reflectance in the four spectral bands, the atmospheric correction being performed using the SMAC (Simplified Method for Atmospheric Corrections) algorithm - Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) - Information on the composite status map (containing identification of snow, ice, shadow, clouds, land/sea for every pixel) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from Top Of Canopy product (SMAC algorithm for atmospheric corrections applied) - Geometric viewing conditions & date and time of selected measurement TOC NDVI Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from Top Of Canopy product (SMAC algorithm for atmospheric corrections applied)
News - Success Stories
PROBA-V data improve surface albedo products in Africa
As ESA’s PROBA-V satellite marks its 10-year launch milestone, data tasked during the mission’s lifetime are still being used to assess changes in land cover.
Tools - Visualisation
PROBA-V Mission Exploitation Platform (MEP)
The MEP PROBA-V addresses a broad vegetation user community with the final aim to ease and increase the use of PROBA-V data by any user.