Washington: US space agency NASA has
signed an agreement with ISRO to use data from Indian
satellite Oceansat-2, for various American agencies for
research activities, including weather forecasting.
Launched on September 23, 2009 using the Polar
Satellite Launch Vehicle from Sriharikota, Oceansat-2; is
designed to provide service continuity for operational users
of the Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) instrument on Oceansat-1.
The agreement with the Indian Space Research
Organisation will lead to the use of data from Oceansat-2 for
various US agencies for research, education and other
activities of public good including weather forecasting.
The Letter of Intent in this regard was signed by
Michael H Freilich, Director Earth Science Division, National
Aeronautics and Space Administration; Mary E Kicza Assistant
Administrator for Satellite and Information Science of the
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and R R Navalgund,
Director, Space Application Centre, ISRO.
The signing ceremony was done in Washington on the
sidelines of Sixth Plenary Session of the Group on Earth
Observations (GEO).
The Deputy Chief of Mission, Indian Embassy, Arun K
Singh; and Deviprasad Karnik, Counsellor (Space) were also
present on the occasion.
The Letter of Intent signed between ISRO, NASA and
NOAA under the overall Joint Civil Space Cooperation agreement
promotes opportunity for receiving Oceansat-2 data by the US
agencies for research, education and activities of public
good.
The joint activities would include calibration,
validation, algorithm development, scientific investigations
and operational applications.
While ocean colour data is envisaged to be useful
for fisheries, monitoring of harmful algae and in studying
global carbon cycles, wind vectors from scatterometer would be
useful in facilitating better weather forecasting.
Oceansat-2 carries three instruments like the eight
band Ocean Color Monitor (OCM) to study Ocean biology, Ku band
pencil beam Scatterometer to measure sea surface wind vectors
and Radio Occultation Sounder for Atmosphere (ROSA).
While the first two instruments are ISRO built, ROSA
has been contributed by the Italian Space Agency.
All the three payloads have been switched on and are
working satisfactorily, providing valuable data, said a
statement from the Indian Embassy.
Bureau Report
