BANGALORE, NOV 25: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has taken over the chairmanship of the International Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), an apex body of various space agencies which coordinates space-based earth observation systems. ISRO took over from the French National Space Agency CNES at the 11th plenary meeting which concluded at Tolouse, France on November 21.This position is a recognition of ISRO's achievements, notably in the field of remote sensing satellites and their applications. ISRO will host the Secretariat of the CEOS and steer the body's activities till November next year when the 12th plenary meeting will be held in Bangalore.The CEOS has 20 space agencies as its members, 12 user agencies as affiliates and four observers. Its yearly activities are reviewed at its annual plenaries. It functions through a secretariat and two working groups - one on Information Systems and Services and the other on Calibration and Validation of sensors. Apart from hosting the Secretariat, ISRO actively participated in two working groups and recently hosted the meeting of the Working Group on Information Systems and Services in Bangalore.Next year is expected to see the evolution of an Integrated Global Observing Strategy between space agencies and user agencies to promote effective utilisation of the presently available earth observation data for global applications. As the chairman of CEOS, it will be ISRO's responsibility to further these activities. With plans to launch satellites for oceanography, large-scale mapping and resources survey in the coming years, ISRO is expected to continue to contribute to space-based remote sensing activities in the world.
