The Payload Data segment

The Envisat Payload Data Segment (PDS) provides the services needed for the exploitation of all of the instrument data. Its development has been the s ubject of a contract between ESA and Alcatel Space Industries as the Prime Contractor, supported by a consortium of thirteen companies. Twenty-three d ifferent facilities or subsystems have been developed and the result is a l arge distributed system with operational sites in seven European countries.