[Satellite TODAY 07-18-13] The SPOT 6, a high-resolution Earth observation satellite designed, built and operated by Astrium has been qualified by the Joint Research Center (JRC) to take part in the MARS-CAP program run by the European Commission. The satellite joins three other Astrium services-operated satellites already qualified for the 2013 MARS-CAP campaign.

 

    Initiated by the European Union in 1993, the MARS-CAP campaigns involve mapping agricultural land throughout Europe to verify declarations relating to cultivated land areas and fallow land submitted by farmers. The European subsidies granted to farmers are based on these declarations and their verification.

 

    “Astrium Services has been working alongside the European Commission for 20 years to help implement the common agricultural policy,” said Evert Dudok, CEO of Astrium, noting that the constellation will cover a surface area of up to 7 million square km per day, which is almost twice the surface area of the entire European Union.