Vegetation reference station (SPOT 4)

The L-band reference station (SRVL) of the Vegetation image ground segment is used to validate the onboard/ground link and to receive and record the images from the L-band channel of the vegetation payload installed on board the SPOT4 sun-synchronous satellite during the whole satellite operational life, i.e. 11 years.
The station consists of the following:

The S-band TM/TC station is used to follow-up the mini and microsatellites.
It has been developed under the CNES supervision. The station is implemented by the CNES and the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) ; it will soon be operated by the Brazilian Space Agency (INPE).
This station is interesting because of its autonomous management modes that enable an automatic follow-up of various low-orbiting satellites at different frequencies whatever the environment conditions and the geographical situation.
This type of station has been implemented in Sweden (Kiruna), in France (Aussaguel, 2 stations and Bram, 2 stations); a station will be installed in Brazil and Germany in 2005.
This product is proposed in a kit version, for the basic band only.

Telecommand station for ARIANE launchers
TSAR is a high-reliability telecommand station designed to send self-destruction orders to the ARIANE launchers on occurrence of problems potentially dangerous to life.

L-Band TTC transportable station
The L-band TM/TC transportable station is used to follow-up stratospheric balloons.
This station is interesting because of its management modes that enable the follow-up of the balloon in one of the following modes:

The station transportability and easy assembly enable to meet any operational requirement.
This type of station is implemented by the CNES (project ETNA) at Aire sur Adour, at Kiruna, and by INPE (project MASCOT).