All ISRO
satellites have passed through the millennium
transition and no anomalies have been observed on
the functioning of any of the satellites. The
transition occurred at 5.30 am IST this morning (January
1, 2000); space systems operations follow GMT as
reference time which is 5 1/2 hour behind IST.
ISRO has five INSAT satellites (INSAT-1D, INSAT-2B,
INSAT-2C, INSAT-2DT and INSAT-2E), five Remote
Sensing Satellites (IRS-1B, IRS-1C, IRS-1D, IRS-P3
and IRS-P4) besides scientific satellite SROSS-C2)
that are in operation.
It may be noted that ISRO had initiated Y2K
compliance activities as far back as June 1998
and has closely monitored and reviewed the Y2K
activities through a three tier task team. INSAT
and IRS Systems had been assessed to be "Y2K
indifferent"; the satellites operate by
referencing the sun and do not contemplate time
and dates and hence were not expected to face any
problem during the transition. The mission
operations ground systems had been analysed and
necessary modifications incorporated to make them
Y2K compliant. ISRO had also carried out detailed
mission simulations with real data sets to ensure
compliance in an operational environment. Further,
contingency plans to take care of any unforeseen
problems during the actual Y2K transition were
also in place.
Expert teams of
designers and software specialists were present
at the Spacecraft Control Centre at INSAT Master
Control Facility, Hassan and the Spacecraft
Control Centre of ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and
Command Network at Bangalore during the Y2K
transition early this morning. All the Y2K
certified systems performed normally and provided
the necessary support for monitoring and
controlling the satellites.
Y2K transition has not affected any of the space
services.