The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) will launch a French advanced remote sensing satellite in a few months. Sources said Isro’s commercial arm, Antrix Corporation, signed a Rs 100 crore deal to launch the 800kg satellite, SPOT 6, built by Astrium SAS, a subsidiary of France’s EADS. It will be launched by Isro’s polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV). “A commercial launch services agreement between Antrix and EADS was signed recently,” said an Isro release.

ITT Exelis Geospatial Systems has delivered GeoEye’s next-generation commercial imaging system for the GeoEye-2 satellite to Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company in Sunnyvale, Calif. When operational in 2013, GeoEye-2 will deliver the highest resolution and most accurate color imagery to GeoEye’s commercial, government and international customers.

Remote sensing solutions provider DMC International Imaging Ltd (DMCii) has signed a contract with Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) to deliver near real-time satellite imagery to monitor forest clearing in the Amazon rainforest and target illegal logging as it happens.