EUSI Invests in Ground Station Upgrade for Faster VHR Satellite Imagery Delivery
European Space Imaging (EUSI) has announced a multi-million-euro upgrade to its Direct Access Facility (DAF) ground station located at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. The investment significantly enhances the speed and capacity of very high-resolution (VHR) satellite imagery delivery, enabling customers across Europe to receive near real-time imagery products faster than ever before.
The upgraded facility began successfully downlinking data from the Maxar WorldView satellite constellation on June 27, marking a major milestone for European Earth observation capabilities. With new processing systems in place, imagery can now be delivered in less than 20 minutes after collection, while the expanded infrastructure allows multiple near real-time orders to be processed simultaneously.
Supporting Next-Generation Satellite Constellations
A key feature of the upgrade is readiness for the upcoming Maxar WorldView Legion constellation. Once operational, Legion satellites will significantly expand imaging capacity, enabling the collection of additional 30-centimeter resolution imagery and more frequent revisit times across Europe and North Africa. The enhanced DAF infrastructure ensures that the growing volume of data can be received, processed, and distributed without delay.
Benefits for Emergency Response and Operational Decision-Making
The improved ground station plays a critical role in applications that require rapid access to satellite data, including disaster response, maritime monitoring, environmental management, and security operations. Faster data delivery allows organizations to make time-sensitive decisions using the most current Earth observation information available.
The facility also supports collaborative programs involving the German Aerospace Center, the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), and other European security and monitoring initiatives. These programs rely heavily on near real-time imagery to detect maritime activity, monitor environmental risks, and develop advanced remote-sensing information products.
Strengthening Europe’s Remote Sensing Infrastructure
The continued partnership between EUSI and DLR reinforces Germany’s role as a key hub for European space infrastructure and Earth observation innovation. By investing in advanced ground segment technology, EUSI aims to strengthen Europe’s leadership in commercial satellite imagery services while ensuring that users across government, research, and industry sectors have access to faster and more reliable geospatial intelligence.
As new satellite constellations come online and demand for real-time Earth observation grows, infrastructure upgrades such as the DLR ground station modernization will play a central role in enabling next-generation remote sensing workflows and accelerating the delivery of actionable geospatial data worldwide.
