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1. Introduction

The Directorate of Applications of the European Space Agency (ESA) has, among others, the objective of making a contribution from the space to the monitoring and study of the environment (i.e. pollution, climate), Earth resources (renewable and non-renewable) management and monitoring, operational meteorology and solid earth/geophysics. ESA achieved experience in geostationary meteorological satellites (Meteosat), after a first launch in 1977. Similarly, ESA was successful in the development and operations of polar remote sensing satellites ERS (1991, 1995) embarking mainly active radar instruments. The current programs have as main elements: ERS, Envisat, MSG, MetOp and Earth Watch/Explorers. Envisat-1, MSG-1 and MetOp-1 are currently under implementation phase (C/D).

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