DARWEN scientist John Parker is playing a key role in keeping the world's satellite network in orbit.

John is a director of Transfinite Systems which has developed specialist software that is used by all the leading satellite operators from NASA to BT.

The company's ground-breaking work has now been recognised with the award of a grant from the British National Space Centre for the development of innovative communications software.

Transfinite is one of only 18 organisations to win funding under the government's S@TCOM programme. Its contribution to the UK's space efforts has been recognised by Lord Sainsbury, Science and Innovation Minister.

"The UK has been at the leading edge of innovative technologies for some time and in order to maintain this position, we need to promote and support innovation in both industry and academia," he said.

John, an old boy of St Mary's College, Blackburn, set up Transfinite Systems in 1994 after working for a French satellite communications company in Paris.

The company specialises in the development of software for the simulation of

radiocommunications systems and for radio interference analysis.

Its key product, Visualyse, is the world's leading off-the-shelf simulation product, used by all major satellite operators and government agencies.

John explained that the software was now established as the industry standard by the United Nations agency responsible for the co-ordination of the world's satellite network.

"Our simulation system is used at the very start of the design process," he said. "It will show if the design will work and whether it will cause interference with other systems."

The £50,000 grant brings the total funding obtained from the British National Space Centre over the last three years to £300,000.

"The current funding will help us to expand our software product base and allow us to recruit additional staff to support our existing products," said John.

Transfinite is based in Croydon, but John decided to return to his native East Lancashire three years ago and works from his home in Chapels on the outskirts of Darwen.

"A lot of what I do is in support of the product," he said.

"I provide technical support and run specialist training courses and, given that most of our clients are based overseas, it does not really matter where I am based."