## The EnMAP Spaceborne Imaging Spectroscopy Mission for Earth Observation  
[PERSON] \({}^{1,\ast}\), [PERSON] \({}^{1}\), [PERSON] \({}^{1}\), [PERSON] \({}^{1}\), [PERSON] \({}^{1}\), [PERSON] \({}^{1}\), [PERSON] \({}^{1}\), [PERSON] \({}^{1}\), [PERSON] \({}^{2}\), [PERSON] \({}^{2}\), [PERSON] \({}^{2}\), [PERSON] \({}^{2}\), [PERSON] \({}^{2}\), [PERSON] \({}^{3}\), [PERSON] \({}^{3}\), [PERSON] \({}^{3}\), [PERSON] \({}^{3}\), [PERSON] \({}^{3}\), [PERSON] \({}^{3}\), [PERSON] \({}^{3}\), [PERSON] \({}^{4}\), [PERSON] \({}^{5}\), [PERSON] \({}^{5}\), [PERSON] \({}^{6}\), [PERSON] \({}^{6}\), [PERSON] \({}^{6}\), [PERSON] \({}^{6}\), [PERSON] \({}^{7}\), [PERSON] \({}^{7}\), [PERSON] \({}^{7}\), [PERSON] \({}^{8}\), [PERSON] \({}^{8}\), [PERSON] \({}^{8}\), [PERSON] \({}^{9}\), [PERSON] \({}^{10}\) and [PERSON] \({}^{11}\)  
\({}^{1}\) Helmholtz Center Potsdam, GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences, Remote Sensing Section, Telegrafenberg A17, 14473 Potsdam, Germany; E-Mails: [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (H.K. ); [PERSON]IL_ADDRESS] (K.S. ); [PERSON]DDRESS] (S.F. ); [PERSON]_ADDRESS] (C.R. ); [PERSON]_ADDRESS] (S.C.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (T.K. ); [PERSON]DRESS] (A.H.)  
\({}^{2}\) Space Administration, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Konigswinterer Str. 522-524, 53227 Bonn, Germany; E-Mails: [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (G.R. ); [PERSON]C.C. ); [PERSON](C.S. ); [PERSON]S.F. ); [PERSON]S.S.)  
\({}^{3}\) Earth Observation Center (EOC), German Aerospace Center (DLR), Munchener Str. 20, 82234 Wessling, Germany; E-Mails: [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (T.S. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (U.H. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (A.M.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.B. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (H.M.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (R.M. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.H.) \({}^{4}\) German Space Operations Center (GSOC), German Aerospace Center (DLR), Munchener Str. 20, 82234 Wessling, Germany; E-Mail: [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
\({}^{5}\) University of Trier, Environmental Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics, Behringstr. 21, 54286 Trier, Germany; E-Mails: [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (J.H. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (H.B.) \({}^{6}\) Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Geography Department, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany; E-Mails: [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (P.H. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (S.V.D.L. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (P.J.L. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (A.R.) \({}^{7}\) Helmholtz-Centre Geesthacht, Institute of Coastal Research, Max Planck-Str. 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany; E-Mails: [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (R.D. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (H.K. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (H.X. )* [8] Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Department of Geography, Luisenstr. 37, 80333 Munich, Germany; E-Mails: [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (W.M. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (T.H. ); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (M.L.) * [9] ESA-ESRIN, Via [PERSON], 64, 00044 Frascati Rome, Italy; E-Mail: [EMAIL_ADDRESS]
* [10] Department of Geography, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada; E-Mail: [EMAIL_ADDRESS]
* [11] OHB System AG, Perchtinger Str. 5, 81379 Munich, Germany; E-Mail: [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: [EMAIL_ADDRESS]; Tel. : +49-331-288-1190; Fax: +49-331-288-1192. Academic Editors: [PERSON] and [PERSON]  
_Received: 30 April 2015 / Accepted: 6 July 2015 / Published: 13 July 2015_  
**Abstract:** Imaging spectroscopy, also known as hyperspectral remote sensing, is based on the characterization of Earth surface materials and processes through spectrally-resolved measurements of the light interacting with matter. The potential of imaging spectroscopy for Earth remote sensing has been demonstrated since the 1980s. However, most of the developments and applications in imaging spectroscopy have largely relied on airborne spectrometers, as the amount and quality of space-based imaging spectroscopy data remain relatively low to date. The upcoming Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP) German imaging spectroscopy mission is intended to fill this gap. An overview of the main characteristics and current status of the mission is provided in this contribution.