ISRO's centre in Ahmedabad that designs satellite payloads, such as cameras, radars, transponders and navigation payloads, and turns their data into everyday uses.
SAC builds the instruments that satellites carry, and the ground uses for their data. Its transponders on INSAT and GSAT satellites carry VSAT, DTH television, internet and telephone links.
It develops the payloads for NavIC and the GAGAN navigation system. It also designs optical and microwave sensors for Earth observation and the software to process their images. SAC also contributed to Chandrayaan-1 and the Mars Orbiter Mission.
SAC began in 1966, when Vikram Sarabhai set up the Experimental Satellite Communication Earth Station in Ahmedabad. In 1972, ISRO's applications units in Ahmedabad were merged to form SAC.
In 1975–76 SAC ran the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE). It used the American ATS-6 satellite.
SAC has a space exhibition and mobile exhibitions for students and the public. It also runs nine-month postgraduate courses in satellite meteorology and communication for students from the Asia-Pacific region.