Historically, by launching the world’s first civilian satellite LANDSAT-1 in 1972 the US signaled that it would not restrict remote sensing exclusively for military purposes. By 1992 US global market dominance in civilian reconnaissance was challenged, prompting President Clinton to enact a law to help private operators/distributors gain future commercial opportunities in the global data market by supporting investment in new technologies and removing unnecessary restrictions on the dissemination of privately gathered data remote sensing systems. Nonetheless, alive to its security needs, American companies are mandated to deploy commercial remote sensing satellites under the ‘Shutter Control’ regime which allows the Department of Commerce legal authority to limit the collection and distribution of commercial satellite imagery when national security, foreign policy interests or international obligations are deemed to be compromised.

India has the largest number of remote sensing satellites for civilian use in the world. Presently, India does not directly market IRS data products to international customers. ‘Unedited’ IRS data products, including high-resolution data, are distributed globally through an international marketing contract between Antarix Corporation Ltd and Space Imaging, USA. Consequently IRS satellite imagery distributed worldwide will remain subject to US law until 2010.

The National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad, serves domestic users. On receipt of an application with fee, IRS data is distributed after ‘sensitive’ topography is first blocked out. Yet it is no secret that competing foreign suppliers are transmitting the same data, edit free, directly to users via the internet. In India one can access sensitive and critical information in complete anonymity.

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