- European Space Agency (ESA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will exchange navigation, operations and data handling support on selected future space missions.
- ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and ISRO Chairman Kailasavadivoo Sivan met virtually on 30 July to celebrate the signing of the new cross-support arrangement and discuss wider spaceflight collaboration.
- Upcoming ISRO human spaceflight, lunar exploration and solar research missions could be among the first supported under the new arrangement.
Bangalore, April 2. Space is not confined to national boundaries. Like other space agencies in the world, the Department of space is having international, presence cooperation, coordination.
International cooperation is a strategic area for a space programme because relationships with other countries are influenced by political, economic, cultural, and human personality factors as well as scientific and technological factors.
India has always recognized that space has dimension beyond national considerations, which can only be addressed along with international partners. Over the years, as ISRO has matured in experience and technological capabilities, the scope for cooperation has become multifaceted.
While exploratory missions beyond the earth are the natural candidates for such cooperative efforts, there are many other themes like climate change impacts on earth, space science and planetary exploration that are of interest to international cooperation because of their global impact.
Over decades, national and international space agencies have built up vast banks of knowledge and experience exploring our Solar System. Through sharing resources – physical infrastructure on the ground, lessons from past successes and failures, and ideas for the future – we reach further, bringing home more from space, for less.
ESA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have signed a cross-support arrangement for the exchange of support and expertise that will ensure both agencies can get information to and from their spacecraft when they need to most – especially during mission-critical moments like the hours after launch or during a landing.
A delegation from the European Space Agency (ESA) led by Mr. Eric Morel, Director of European Legal and International Matters, visited ISRO: DOS Centres in Ahmedabad and Bengaluru during March 27-31, 2023.
After visiting SAC, PRL, URSC, HFSC, ISTRAC and NSIL, the delegation had a concluding meeting at ISRO Headquarters on March 31, 2023, with S Somanath, Chairman, ISRO and Secretary, DOS, and other senior ISRO officials.
The meeting deliberated collaborative opportunities in Earth Observation, Science Programs, Navigation, Human Space Flight, Operations, and Technology. Opportunities emerging from the opening up of Space sector reforms in India were also discussed.
ESA expressed willingness to work with the Indian space ecosystem, including Industry and Academia by sharing technical expertise, data, and tools.
ISRO offered to explore ride-sharing for ESA’s Science missions on Indian launch vehicles and experiments in PSLV Orbital Experimental Module. Both agencies agreed to work for the exchange of experts and carry out joint activities involving Indian and European industries.
