The Cabinet was today apprised of a pact signed between Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and United States Geological Survey (USGS) for cooperation in the exchange and use of US Land Remote Sensing Satellite Data.
The Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed on July 9, 2016 at Bengaluru will enable ISRO to receive USGS's Landsat-7 and 8 in India and USGS to receive the Indian space agency's Resourcesat-2 (AWiFS and LISS III) data of American region.
ISRO is actively pursuing civilian space cooperation with many US organisations, including National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and USGS.
Data from Landsat series of satellites operated by USGS was used by Indian scientists during the inception of the indigenous remote sensing programme.
ISRO received Landsat data during 1984 to 2001 through its ground station at Shadnagar. USGS has launched Landsat -8 satellite in February 2013.
ISRO expressed interest in direct reception of the Landsat-8 data in India, while USGS expressed interest in obtaining data from ISRO's Resourcesat-2 satellite.
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