Euromap GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of GAF AG, and ANTRIX Corporation Limited of India announced their new agreement to expand Euromap’s participation in the Indian Remote Sensing satellite program with the reception and distribution of high-resolution stereo imagery from the Cartosat-1 (IRS-P5) satellite.
The Indian constellation of Earth Observation satellites is marketed through ANTRIX, the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), and Earth Observation Technologies LLC (EOTec) as agents for ANTRIX. Under the terms of the new three year agreement with ANTRIX and EOTec, Euromap will have the exclusive distribution rights in Europe to receive and distribute Cartosat-1 data collected over Europe and North Africa. Euromap represents the only receiving and distribution facilities for IRS satellite data in Europe. The new agreement marks the continuation of a successful cooperative partnership between Euromap, ANTRIX and the German Aerospace Center DLR, which started in 1996 when Euromap began receiving and distributing imagery from India’s IRS-1C and 1D satellites.
Cartosat-1 (IRS-P5) was successfully launched into a sun synchronous orbit on May 5, 2005 by India’s PSLV-C6 rocket and has a planned mission life of five to seven years. Cartosat-1 continues the long heritage of IRS remote sensing satellites with enhanced data quality delivered by two panchromatic (black and white) cameras for in-flight stereo viewing with 2.5 meter resolution and ~27 km swath. Cartosat-1 data is acquired by a world-wide network of ground receiving stations. Euromap’s ground station in Neustrelitz, Germany is owned and operated by DLR-DFD and has been successfully upgraded and added to the world-wide network to receive, process and distribute data from Cartosat-1. DLR systems will also be used to generate precise elevation models from the Cartosat-1 stereo data.
Dr. Rupert Haydn, CEO of Euromap GmbH recently stated: “We are delighted to further expand Euromap’s product portfolio and offerings to the European user community that service from Cartosat-1 will bring. This is a further step in Euromap’s planned growth and involvement in the Indian EO satellite program and we also anticipate participating in the new Cartosat-2 program now that check-out has been completed on this new 1 meter high-resolution imaging satellite.”
Dr. K.R. Sridhara Murthi, Executive Director of ANTRIX Corporation Limited recently stated: “We welcome Euromap’s expanded level of participation in the IRS program. Cartosat-1 is an excellent mapping tool providing 2.5 meter stereo imagery which will serve the mapping and monitoring needs of Europe and Euromap’s customers most effectively. Euromap’s decision to participate in the Cartosat-1 program is a clear testimony to our long partnership which we hope to further expand in the coming years.”
Mr. Timothy J. Puckorius, Chairman and CEO of EOTec recently stated: “Euromap is the center of excellence for the use and distribution of IRS data in Europe. It’s only natural that EOTec would help expand Euromap’s long partnership with ANTRIX by including Cartosat-1 in its product portfolio. We expect to see this relationship further expand in the very near future.”
