Earth observation satellites monitor our planet’s climate and the environment. They assist us in predicting the weather and enable us to map the Earth's surface accurately. Within hours after a natural disaster, their images provide important information for relief and rescue operations. Moreover, satellite data permit making global forecasts regarding harvest yields or the exact places where irrigation and fertilisers should be applied.
However, satellite data need to be processed in numerous complex steps before legible images, interpretable information, maps, or services can be extracted from them. Sensor and satellite technology are continuously being improved, and the number of Earth observation missions is growing. To enable us to develop innovative applications, evaluation methods need to be advanced as well. So, to support Germany’s TerraSAR-X, TanDEM-X, EnMAP and Merlin missions as well as the European Sentinel satellites, the DLR Space Administration funds the development of new algorithms, scientific methods and applications as well as new services for the benefit of both the private and public sector.