The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed an agreement to collaborate on activities related to astronaut training, mission launches, and research experiments.
The agreement was signed by ISRO Chairman S. Somanath, who is also Secretary, Department of Space (DoS), and Dr Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA.
According to ISRO, the agreement establishes a framework for cooperative activities in human space exploration and research, focusing on astronaut training, development support for experiments and integration (including the use of ESA facilities on the International Space Station), human research and biomedical research, and programs joint education and community outreach.
For the upcoming Axiom-4 mission, in which ISRO’s Gaganyatri and ESA astronauts will be part of the crew, the two organizations are collaborating to carry out research proposed by India’s ISS Principal Investigators.
ISRO stated that efforts continue to participate in ESA’s human body studies, technology demonstration exercises, and joint educational outreach activities.
In his words, S. Somanath highlighted ISRO’s roadmap for human spaceflight activities and noted that the recent commissioning of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) provides an important opportunity to enhance interoperability between human space platforms.
Dr. Aschbacher expressed gratitude to Dr. Somanath for addressing the ESA Council and highlighted that the agreement serves as a solid foundation for cooperation between the two entities.
The leadership of both the organizations expressed satisfaction with the progress of the joint operations of the Axiom-4 mission and emphasized the importance of continuing cooperative efforts in future human spaceflight, ISRO said.