Accord's GPS technology for ISRO

BANGALORE: Bangalore based Accord Software & Systems Pvt. Ltd., has announced that it has successfully partnered with ISRO on its Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) spacecraft programs.

According to the press release, the company has successfully developed indigenously a GPS based Spacecraft Positioning System (SPS) for the IRS spacecraft recently launched by ISRO.

Announcing the success of GPS based SPS functioning on the IRS spacecraft, Accord Software executive director S Purushotham said, “The onboard SPS, developed and supplied by Accord, receives signals from GPS satellites and computes position, velocity and time for the IRS spacecraft. These parameters are stored for the entire orbit duration and downloaded to the ground station with a tele-command.”

Accord's SPS's have already been flown in four Indian Remote Sensing spacecraft since 1999 including the recent launch of CARTOSAT 1 spacecraft by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C6 on May 5, 2005. As being monitored by the Ground Control Facility at ISTRAC, the SPS in CARTOSAT 1 has been functioning well and sending the required messages periodically to the Ground Station.

“Accord has excellent GPS core technology knowledge, skills and experience. We are the only company in India, which has developed the core GPS technology through its in-house R&D efforts. The technology is applicable for use in automotives, consumer electronics and aerospace applications. Accord has already applied for 4 international patents in the area of GPS technology,” added Accord Software MD JM Sundaresan.

“We hope to strengthen our association with ISRO and further establish mutual confidence and competence in taking up bigger challenges in building Positioning and Navigation systems for all its future Indian Spacecraft Programs,” he concluded.