Spot Image is the commercial operator of the SPOT system. As such, it is the link between users and the space segment operated by CNES.

The commercial operations ground segment (SSOC) is structured around a central hub in Toulouse, France, that receives data from stations in Toulouse and Kiruna, Sweden, and from a network of ten partner receiving stations.

The SSOC has been upgraded in readiness to receive SPOT 5 data. Major enhancements have also been made to improve programming efficiency, with a more responsive timing chart and faster catalogue updates, and to provide a uniform interface with network partner stations.

Architecture

• a central hub in Toulouse that receives data from the two main receiving in Toulouse and Esrange, Sweden
• a network of partner receiving stations located in market areas around the globe

• receives users' programming requests and delivers products to them
• manages a central image catalogue
• establishes payload workplans in accordance with acquisition requests and forwards them to the satellite operator via the Programming Centre (CPR)
• receives and processes satellite image telemetry via the Archive and Preprocessing Centre (CAP)

Partner receiving stations are customers whose requests are centralized. However, they receive and process image telemetry directly.