EnMAP will monitor the Earth's surface with a ground sampling distance (GSD) of 30 m x 30 m (30 km x 5000 km per day) measuring in the 420-2450 nm range by means of two separate spectrometers covering the visible to near-infrared (VNIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectral regions with 244 contiguous bands. The mean spectral sampling distance and resolution is of 6.5 nm at the VNIR, and of 10 nm at the SWIR. Accurate radiometric and spectral responses are guaranteed by a defined signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of ≥ 400:1 in the VNIR and ≥ 170:1 in the SWIR, a radiometric calibration accuracy better than 5% and a spectral calibration uncertainty of 0.5 in the VNIR and 1 nm in the SWIR. An off-nadir pointing capability of up to 30° enables a target revisit time of 4 days. In this program the GFZ Potsdam has the scientific lead, OHB System AG is the industrial prime and provides the bus. The German Space Agency is managing the project and the German Aerospace Establishment is responsible for the ground segment.