The Argos Data Collection System (Argos DCS) is operated through a cooperative program between the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), France’s Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The Argos DCS is managed by NOAA, CNES, EUMETSAT and ISRO jointly through the Argos Operations Committee. The system consists of: instruments provided by CNES, which are flown aboard NOAA, EUMETSAT and ISRO polar-orbiting satellites; user supplied platform transmitter terminals (PTTs) or platform message transceivers (PMTs); and global and regional data processing centres.
NOAA is authorized to enter this agreement under the authority granted to it in 15 USC 313 and 49 USC 44720.
CNES is authorized to enter this agreement under the authority granted to it by Act 61-1382 of December 19, 1961.
EUMETSAT is authorized to enter this agreement according to the agreement signed in Paris on February 27, 2001 between EUMETSAT and CNES governing the cooperation relative to the delivery, integration and exploitation of the Argos data collection and platform location system on board METOP satellites.
ISRO is authorized to enter this agreement according to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on February 23, 2007 between ISRO and CNES governing the cooperation related to the Argos payload on board SARAL satellite.