Scientific and commercial remote sensing was still in its early stage when the first European Remote Sensing satellite, ERS‑1, was launched in 1991. This book describes the exceptional success of a pioneering satellite, starting in a different technological era and founding communities that have significantly advanced our knowledge of planet Earth, while bringing research to operational services and business.

ERS-1 was followed by ERS-2 in April 1995. Carrying suites of sophisticated instruments to study the complexities of the atmosphere, land, oceans and polar caps, these two missions were the most advanced and complex satellites of their time. Over 20 years the two satellites delivered a continuous stream of data and information that changed our view of the world and placed Europe firmly at the forefront of Earth observation.