This configuration includes two satellites, set to be placed into sun-synchronous orbit. Pleiades is the successor to the SPOT and HELIOS satellites for certain applications. The first elements of the system are programmed for launch, starting in 2009. Developed within the framework of European cooperation (France, Belgium, Sweden, Spain, Austria and Italy), it is a dual-purpose system that meets the requirements of both defense and civil users (institutional, scientific and commercial). CS proves its capacity for project management and has committed to delivering a turnkey mission critical system with an operational lifetime greater than 15 years. Through this project, CS confirms its position as the European leader in earth segments for earth observation systems.