Satellite Operating Partner Program
The SOP Program enables governments to own the exclusive rights to utilize and control the EROS satellite imaging time over a defined geographical footprint, through a long-term service lease.

The Satellite Operating Partner (SOP) service provides customers with exclusive local tasking and confidential reception of imagery at their own ground control station, enabling autonomous, secret use of one or more dedicated EROS high-resolution satellites over a specific geographic area. ImageSat provides a dedicated, end-to-end system, which is operated by SOPs, and includes imaging mission planning, satellite tasking, satellite imagery collection and real-time processing.

SOP customers are equipped with all the hardware and software required to operate the satellite in real-time.

SOP Ground Receiving Stations communicate and task EROS satellites directly whenever they are within a 2,000-2,200 km radius of the station. SOPs send their fully-confidential imaging plan to the satellite as it enters a station's communication range. Images are downloaded directly to the SOP's ground station in real time, confidentially, as the imaging plan is executed. SOPs' use of individual EROS satellites is guaranteed by ImageSat International and may not be pre-empted by other customers or by ImageSat International.

SOP Program Advantages:

•  Exclusivity:  SOPs have exclusive control of the EROS satellite camera on 100% of the satellite passes over their footprint. They exclusively receive and own all imagery acquired and downloaded while the satellite is within their exclusive SOP service area or "footprint".
• Autonomy:  ImageSat’s SOP operational model creates an autonomous local operation, fully equipped and trained to independently plan each orbital imaging mission, including tracking, programming and controlling use of the satellite's camera whenever the satellite is over the exclusive service area. SOPs then receive in real time, process and exploit the imagery information acquired. All of these activities are performed at the SOP ground station by local SOP personnel and within the SOP's national territory. 
• Secrecy:  SOPs are assured complete confidentiality of their intelligence-gathering activities, as the entire operation is conducted exclusively by SOP personnel at the SOP ground station. ImageSat is not involved in local operations in any way, following ground system delivery and the training of local personnel. There is NO reporting requirement to ImageSat or any regulatory body.  SOP-acquired imagery is not recorded or stored on the satellite and cannot be downloaded to any other ground station. 
• Flexibility: SOPs determine the imaging resolution, scanning angle, integration and priority for each image tasked.  Tasking of the camera can be updated as little as thirty minutes before each pass of the EROS satellite over the SOP service area. 
• Real-time imagery:  SOPs receive direct downlink of EROS imagery at their ground station in real-time - as each image in the mission acquisition sequence is actually acquired by the satellite camera.
• Risk free:  SOPs receive the benefits of using existing and future EROS high-resolution satellites, as if they were their own, without incurring the considerable risk, time or expense involved in developing, funding and deploying their own satellite. Customers only pay for the SOP services they actually receive.
• Single User’s License: SOP Customers receive a Single User License to meet all governmental needs – for both National Security and Civilian Applications.

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