Launched on the 9th September 2012, SPOT 6 is a high-resolution optical Earth observation satellite built by Astrium. Like its twin, SPOT 7, which is due to launch in 2014, SPOT 6 has a 60-km swath width and produces images with a resolution down to 1.5 metres.

To enable the satellite to take such high resolution images, e2v supplied CCD imaging sensors which equip the satellites Astrium built NAOMI camera.

The image sensors were produced using the latest generation of technologies including:

+ Time Delay Integration (TDI) and stage selections

+ High integration level

High sensitivity / Back side illumination The SPOT 6 and 7 satellites will join the already orbiting, very high resolution, Pleiades 1A and by 2014, Pleiades 2B (both of which are equipped with e2v imaging sensors) to form a complete optical constellation.

It means that all points of the globe will be seen every day once in high resolution and once in very high resolution.

The resulting imagery will be distributed by Astrium Services for use in national and defence mapping, agriculture, deforestation and environment monitoring, maritime and coastal surveillance, civil engineering, oil, gas and mining industries.

Michel Tulet, Head of the detection department within the Optical Instruments Division at EADS Astrium, France said "We are fully satisfied with the performances delivered by the detectors developed by e2v for Astrium.

"Thanks to more than 20 years of cooperation on ambitious programmes, our teams have acquired a strong mutual knowledge resulting in a close and very fruitful cooperation.

"This allows the best to be offered in terms of performance and cost effectiveness for the NAOMI instrument product family. Three NAOMI instruments are now already delivering high-quality images from low Earth orbit and four others will join them in the coming months".

e2v's marketing manager, Bertrand De Monte said "e2v provided imaging sensors for previous generations of the satellites; SPOT 4 in 1998 and SPOT 5 in 2002 and are delighted to assist in providing a continuity of service with the supply of sensors for SPOT 6 and SPOT 7.

"Our latest sensors have been produced using improved technology and functionality and we look forward to seeing the images produced over the coming years."