During the mission's development and throughout its operational lifetime, the Envisat mission was supported through the expertise of partners in the industry. Organisations provided algorithms for exploiting the data and performed engineering work on the satellite and instruments.

The Expert Support Laboratories (ESLs), with industrial support, were responsible for producing the detailed algorithm specifications for Envisat Level 1b and Level 2 products, as well as for providing continuous support throughout the mission exploitation phase.

• Phase I: Product definition, algorithm development, and prototyping phase
• Phase II: Support to the operational implementation and pre-launch verification phase
• Phase III: Product validation phase, including in-orbit commissioning
• Phase IV: Product quality control and product enhancement during the mission exploitation phase

The results of the ESL work was contained in a set of algorithm specifications:

• Input/Output Data Definition defining the detailed content and format of all products, including auxiliary products
• Detailed Processing Model and Parameter Data List specifying in detail the mathematical algorithms to produce the Envisat Level 1b and Level 2 products
• Computer Resource Requirements

The development of the PDS operational processor was based on these applicable requirement specifications.

The detailed algorithm specification was accompanied by the development of software prototypes in order to ensure the correctness of the algorithm specification, including detailed check of the interfaces.  These also evaluated the sensitivity and robustness of the proposed algorithm chain, supported the evaluation and the selection among different algorithm alternatives when needed, and finally, generated test data sets for the acceptance of the operational processors.

An important role in this process was played by the instrument system simulators. For more information regarding these, please refer to each individual instruments' data products section.

Envisat Level 1b ESL/industrial support

The following organisations supported the Level 1b products:

Envisat Level 2 ESL/industrial support

The following organisations supported the Level 2 products:

Envisat system engineering support

The following organisations provided engineering support at the system level:

Payload data segment development

Alcatel Space Industries (former Thomson-CSF Services & Systemes Sol Spatiaux) was prime contractor responsible for overall programme management, central procurement of hardware and software, system engineering, and system validation and acceptance.

Individual facility development contracts were awarded to European and Canadian subcontractors having the expertise and experience due to their involvement in other Earth observation programmes.

Polar platform and satellite

The European Polar Platform was developed by a consortium of European industrial companies led by the prime contractor Marconi Space in Bristol, United Kingdom, who was also responsible for the final satellite integration and preparation for launch. Dornier, Germany, had major development responsibility for Payload Equipment Bay which was part of the Payload Module, and Matra Marconi Space in Toulouse (F) was leading the Service Module development. In all, about 50 companies participated in this major undertaking.

Envisat payload

The industrial team was led by Dornier Satellitensysteme GmbH, responsible for the ESA development instruments and certain mission/system aspects.

The Envisat team included leading European and Canadian companies which had gained significant experience from their involvement in the main European Earth observation programmes. Many were particularly involved in the ERS-1/2 programme and as such provided continuity and transfer of experience from that very successful programme.