Earth Observation/Remote Sensing Satellites
Satellite Design
2018 – EO/RS Meteorology Focus
In 1900, a hurricane defied U.S. Weather Service predictions and destroyed Galveston, Texas. The highest part of the island on which the city rests is about ### meters (# feet)…
2018 – EO/RS Satellite Manufacturers
Three manufacturers accounted for ##% (##) of all EO/RS satellites deployed in 2018: Planet, Spire Global, and... Three manufacturers accounted for 47% (83) of all EO/RS satellites deployed in 2018:…
2018 – EO/RS Satellite Operators
The countries with spacecraft operators operating the most EO/RS satellites deployed in 2018 were in the U.S. and China. Combined, operators from these two countries accounted for ##% (##)... The…
2018 – EO/RS Satellites Breakdown by Payload Type
Optical payloads constituted the largest share of the payloads of the ### EO/RS satellites deployed during 2018, ##% (###)... Optical payloads constituted the largest share of the payloads of the…
2018 – EO/RS Satellites Breakdown by Mission Segment
Of the ### EO/RS satellites deployed in 2018, a majority, ##% (##), were deployed for commercial purposes. Of the 176 EO/RS satellites deployed in 2018, a majority, 56% (98), were…
2017 – Military Satellites
National security drives national efforts to acquire and operate military satellites. While there some exceptions, most military satellites have very similar capabilities as their commercial... National security drives national efforts…
2017 – Surface Imaging
Surface imaging satellites observe, monitor, and track changes and developments on the Earth’s surface using a variety of optical or electronic imaging capabilities. EO satellites... Surface imaging satellites observe, monitor,…
2017 – Meteorology
Only ## satellites with a dedicated meteorological focus were deployed during 2017—less than ##% of ## spacecraft deployed during that year. It was also a drop from the number of…
2016 – Military Reconnaissance
Earth observation used to be the domain of a nation’s civil agencies and military. In 2016, ## spacecraft were launched or deployed in the Earth’s orbit. More than ##, ##,…
2016 – Meteorology
For all of the importance placed on meteorological satellites, they made up a very small part of the ## Earth observation/remote sensing satellites placed in Earth’s orbit during 2016. With…