As a part of today’s current affairs, the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) for cooperation on the development of a Joint Small Satellite. This collaboration aims to strengthen space ties between the two nations.
Key Points
- MoU Signing:
The MoU was signed in Port Louis, Mauritius, on November 01, 2023, under the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication, and Innovation of the Republic of Mauritius.
- Cooperation Framework:
The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation between ISRO and MRIC for the joint development of a small satellite. It also includes cooperation on the use of MRIC’s Ground Station.
- Impact:
The collaboration will facilitate the development of a joint satellite, with participation from Indian industries in building certain subsystems. This will benefit the industry and may lead to employment generation.
- Continuous Support:
The joint satellite development ensures continuous support from the Mauritius Government for ISRO’s ground station in Mauritius, crucial for India’s launch vehicle and satellite missions.
- Implementation Schedule:
The joint satellite realization is expected to be completed within 15 months from the signing of the MoU.
- Expenditure:
The estimated cost for realizing the joint satellite is Rs.20 crore, funded by the Government of India. No other financial exchanges are involved in this MoU.
Background:
- Space Cooperation History:
India and Mauritius have a longstanding space cooperation dating back to the late 1980s when ISRO established a ground station in Mauritius for tracking and telemetry support.
- Agreements:
The current collaboration follows agreements signed in 1986 and 2009. The 2009 agreement governs the current space cooperation between the two nations.
- Initiation of Collaboration:
The collaboration emerged from the interest expressed by MRIC in jointly building a small satellite for Mauritius. The Ministry of External Affairs requested ISRO to initiate discussions with MRIC for this purpose.
- Signing Event:
The MoU was signed during the visit of the Minister of State (MEA) to Mauritius for the ‘Aapravasi Diwas’ event, further strengthening the ties between the two nations in the field of space exploration.
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