Author was both a geospatial-data-scientist and a software-quality-engineer during 1983 – 2016 with Space Applications Centre (SAC). SAC is one of the major centres of Indian Space Research Organisa,on (ISRO). In this paper learning experiences at SAC by a software-quality-engineering team led by the author in realizing software quality are conveyed. Initially there was a Software Process Engineering Cell (SPEC) in Signal and Image Processing Area during 2008-2013. At SPEC, the team instituted a common software-engineering infrastructure, initially for internal use which was later put into use for the Centre. Subsequently the team moved on to Ground Software Quality Assurance Division in Systems Reliability Area, when the team was involved in software-quality-assurance (SQA) for ground-segment software projects for ISRO’s space-borne remote sensing missions in the Centre, in an independent capacity. He was a member of ISRO Software Control Board representing SAC during 2015-16. The opinions expressed here are in his personal capacity and does not necessarily reflect ISRO policies. Three most important lessons learnt in practice are shared. They are: (i) establishing a software-engineering-infrastructure for the Centre adopting free-and-open-source software tools; (ii) having an independent software-quality-assurance (SQA) team involved from beginning of each software development project; and (iii) having a measurement practice for software quality, implemented during predelivery test-and-evaluation cycle, and post-facto monitoring. How these three practices have helped the Centre to optimally realize cost, quality and schedule for each project undertaken – are discussed along with difficulties faced during implementation; and benefits accrued over time.

• Member: ACM, CSI, IEEE, IMS, INCA, ISG and ISRS - Independent researcher and consultant on software quality 2016-2024 - Geospatial data scientist and Software quality engineer while at SAC during 1983-2016 - Institute research scholar at IIT Madras 1979-1983 - M.Sc. (Mathematics) at IIT Madras 1977-1979 - B.Sc. (Mathematics) at AVC College, Mannampandal, University of Madras 1974-1977 - Pre-University Course at AVC College, Mannampandal, University of Madras 1973-1974.