BackForward Satellite Programme: Satellite for the Ocean 

Programme details
Programme description
  • Series of operational satellites for ocean observation.
  • Indian programme: ISRO responsible of development and operations.
  • The platforms are actively stabilised over 3 axes.
  • The design life time is 5 years.
  • The satellites exploit sunsynchronous orbits around 12:00.
  • The replacement policy is based on launching satellites in sequence, roughly 6 months before the expected end-of-life of a satellite.
  • See detailed description at http://www.isro.org/satellites/earthobservationsatellites.aspx.
Data circulation
  • Data are stored onboard for Global Area Coverage (GAC) at reduced resolution and Local Area Coverage (LAC) in full resolution.
  • All data are downlinked to the main ISRO station close to Hyderabad.
  • Processing and distribution is performed by the National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC) in Hyderabad.
Agencies ISRO
Programme lifetime 1999 - 2030
Associated satellites and instruments

Note: red tag => no longer operational , green tag => operational , blue tag => planned