Patent ID: 8559870

Claim:
A process for acquisition and downloading of satellite observation image data representing a zone of space (“the target zone”), comprising: acquiring data by a constellation of satellites (“the spatial layer”), each satellite being equipped with at least one device for acquisition of data; and transmitting the data to a plurality of receiving stations distributed over the surface of the Earth (“the terrestrial layer”), each receiving station including at least one receiving module for receiving satellite observation image data and storage means for storage of received satellite observation image data, wherein, for each satellite observation image datum received by a receiving station (“the receiver station”) and emanating from the spatial layer: a receiving station, that stores the satellite observation image datum (“the competent receiving station”), is determined by determination means, said satellite observation image datum is stored by said storage means of the receiver station of said satellite observation image datum if the receiver station is the competent receiving station for said satellite observation image datum, and said satellite observation image datum is routed, by means of a terrestrial digital network interlinking the receiving stations with each other, from the receiver station to the competent receiving station for said satellite observation image datum if the receiver station of said satellite observation image datum is not the competent receiving station for said satellite observation image datum.