Antrix Corporation of the Department of Space (DOS) and Space Imaging, USA, have signed an agreement to extend the sales and marketing arrangement for the Indian Remote Sensing satellite data between the two agencies. Mr K R Sridhara Murthi, Executive Director, ANTRIX and Mr Robert Dalal, CEO of Space Imaging, signed the agreement on January 27, 2004 in Bangalore, at a brief ceremony attended by Mr G Madhavan Nair, Chairman of ISRO and of Antrix Board. This agreement gives Space Imaging rights to market worldwide the data from ISRO's latest remote sensing satellite, RESOURCESAT-1, launched in October 2003 as well as CARTOSAT-1, planned for launch this year.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman of ISRO, Mr Madhavan Nair said "ISRO, Antrix and Space Imaging have worked as partners to fulfill India's vision of a global commercial earth observation programme and I am happy that the Indian Remote Sensing satellite system has emerged as one of the most high-profile programmes in the imaging industry."

Mr Robert Dalal, CEO of Space Imaging, said that in the past eight years, 19 ground stations have been installed to access data from Indian Remote Sensing satellites, IRS-1C and IRS-1D, and hence the success of these satellites is without question. "The continuation of our long-standing marketing relationship with Antrix is an important step in our business plan. Combined with its successful launch and Space Imaging's worldwide user base, we are certain to gain maximum exposure of RESOURCESAT-1 imagery across many global markets" he added.

The Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) programme primarily began with the objective of meeting diverse needs of natural resource management and environment related needs in India and also for supporting advanced research in earth sciences. It started with IRS-1A and 1B, subsequently replaced with IRS-1C and 1D satellite systems, which provided to the user community the best set of resolutions and spectral characteristics in the civilian sector when they were launched into space. Besides, a satellite specialising in ocean applications was also put into service in 1999.

Over the years, IRS programme has taken deep roots and has become the mainstay for providing timely, repetitive, and synoptic information through space based systems for nationwide applications. The programme has generated over 500 committed users and more than 100 value adding business enterprises in India.

RESOURCESAT-1, the most advanced remote sensing satellite built by ISRO so far, was launched in October 2003 by India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). CARTOSAT-1 is scheduled for launch this year, by the same launcher.