Development of MYRIADE was decided by CNES in 1998, in continuation of the PROTEUS program.

The challenge was make available to the space community, a mean to access to space with reduced delay and cost: targeted applications are first scientific, however also include technology missions as well as demonstrations of future services.

Technological achievements, and in particular electronic miniaturization make possible missions with a high level of performances within reduced volumes. MYRIADE thus widely reckons on commercial parts.
Mass saving also permits to use cheaper solutions for launch, either as a main passenger on a small launcher or as a secondary passenger on a larger one.

MYRIADE then makes available the following elements to users and partners:

A set of functional elements which will constitute a platform allowing several options, and after addition of a payload, will make a satellite having a typical mass between 100 and 150 kg,
A ground segment for data acquisition, command and control of the satellites,
Tools to permit mission analysis, satellite design, and system validation.

CNES signed partnerships agreements with both THALES ALENIA SPACE and ASTRIUM space industries, under which are allowed to use the MYRIADE design to develop their own applications.