‘Bhuvan’- India’s answer to Google Earth
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will soon launch ‘Bhuvan’, which will provide online maps based on GIS in line of Google Earth, ISRO chairman, G Madhavan Nair said recently. It is equivalent to the Google Earth, but is going to be much more precise .It will provide the latest information on our natural resources. We are going to provide very accurate maps of the region with the latest picture. The service likely to commence in the coming six months, will be available to the people in appropriate manner. This will provide valuable and updated information to the people. The software and infrastructure necessary for the service is being established. Though most of the information will be online, but precision data will be given to selected users only,” Nair said. http://www.thehindu.com

GeoEye-1 in orbit: 0.5m resolution imagery starting this fall
GeoEye has announced the launch and deployment of GeoEye-1, the world’s highest resolution, commercial Earthimaging satellite. GeoEye-1 will now undergo a calibration and check-out period before imagery products will be available for sale. GeoEye-1 will simultaneously collect 0.41-meter ground resolution blackand- white (panchromatic) images and 1.65-meter colour (multispectral) images. Designed to take digital images of the Earth from 423 miles (681 kilometers) and moving at a speed of about four-and-a-half miles (seven kilometers) per second, the satellite camera can distinguish objects on the Earth’s surface as small as 0.41-meter or 16 inches in size. Due to U.S. licensing restrictions, commercial customers will get access to imagery at half meter ground resolution. www.gpsbusinessnews.com

ISRO to forecast crop behavior
The Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics has tied up with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the project to forecast crop condition and drought-like situations with the

help of satellite images. Satellite images of the ground where the crops are harvested will be matched, analysed and calculated with the data provided by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and a conclusion will be arrived at. Initially, the project will be carried out in Karnataka on a pilot basis. Later, it will be implemented in other major agricultural states like Maharashtra.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

IIT Kanpur proposes micro satellite to ISRO

IIT Kanpur has submitted a proposal to the Indian Space Research Organisation, relating to design and development of a micro satellite. It shall weigh around 7 kgs, can be used as part of disaster management and in cartography. The project was expected to require a funding of around Rs 5-7 crore. www.business-standard.com

INDUSTRY | LBS | GPS | GIS | REMOTE SENSING | GALILEO UPDATE

Satellite technology to aid fishermen in India
The Indian Remote Sensing Applications Centre at Hyderabad has been giving readings of the remote sensing satellite to all the fishing harbors to help the fishermen to track the fish shoals. The system works on the …

India’s leap into space

On April 28, 2008, ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C9, successfully launched the 690 kg Indian remote sensing satellite CARTOSAT- 2A, the 83 kg Indian Mini Satellite (IMS-1) and eight nanosatellites for international customers into a 637 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO). PSLV-C9 in its ‘core alone’ configuration launched ten satellites with a total weight of about 820 kg.

Brazil to deepen Space Cooperation with China

According to Carlos Ganem , head of the Brazilian Space Agency, Brazil will deepen cooperation with China in the field of space technology. The jointly-developed satellite helped Brazil better monitor the deforestation in the Amazon region, which can provide useful information on Brazil’s environmental protection efforts. www.spacedaily.com

Iran’s space ambitions ride on Safir
Iran has successfully recently launched a sub-orbital rocket called Safir (Envoy). The payload that was launched by Safir sent real-time data back to earth from about 250 km. Next, a satellite called Omid (Hope) will be placed in a near-polar orbit satellite, at an altitude of 650 km and will pass over Iran six times every 24 hours.

Indo-Norwegian pact on developing TOPAZ
WAn Indo-Norwegian agreement was signed to collaborate in developing an operational ocean modelling and data assimilation system for the Indian Ocean—the TOPAZ Indian Ocean forecasting system. The parties from Norway are the Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre (NERSC) and the University of Bergen (UoB), while the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and Nansen Environmental Research Centre-India (NERCI) Kochi are from India. According to a press release issued here, the TOPAZ Indian Ocean system has been implemented, assessed and used by a group of scientists of Bergen and Kochi. www.hindu.com

Better ‘eye’ in space for Malaysia
Weighing 180 kg and with a 2.5 m resolution, Malaysia’s second remotesensing satellite shall provide images every 100 minutes. The RazakSAT is expected to be launched into space by the middle of this year. The satellite was jointly developed by Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn Bhd and Satellite Technology Research Center Initiative Co Ltd, South Korea. The cost of the RazakSAT programme is RM60 million. http://www.nst.com.my/