Wide-ranging space partnership! ISRO and France’s CNES signs pact to develop constellation of satellites
Total Views |
New Delhi, Aug. 24: ISRO is making her own ‘space’ in the international space race. Now, after PM Modi’s visit to France, both nation’s space agencies-CNES and ISRO signed an agreement to develop a constellation of satellites on Thursday.
These satellites will carry telecommunications (Automation Identification System), radar, and optical remote-sensing instruments, which are supposed to be the world’s first space-based system that can track ships continuously.
The agreement was signed by CNES President Jean-Yves Le Gall and Sivan K, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Studies on this project have been underway since President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to India in March 2018.
In an official statement, Jean-Yves Le Gall said, “CNES and ISRO teams are both very proud to see, in the presence of President Macron and Prime Minister Modi, this new step forward in our cooperation in space. Our technologies today occupy an unprecedented place in the world economy, and it is through large-scale international partnership projects like these that we will promote and develop our excellence.”
Both the space agencies have developed, built, and are jointly operating several satellites serving precious applications for food security (monsoon forecasting), water resource management, and climate research.
Both nations will jointly operate the satellites to monitor ships on the Indian Ocean. In addition, it will also benefit the French economic interest as the system will cover a wide belt around the globe.
The heads of both nations also discussed the training of in-flight surgeons in France, who will be responsible for India’s future astronauts. Also, the two countries are active contributors to space programs that are tackling climate change. In fact, India is involved in the Space Climate Observatory (SCO) for which the founding declaration was signed at this year’s Paris Air Show in the presence of President Macron.