The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), reaffirming their pursuit of international space cooperation for peaceful purposes while working towards economic and social development for both countries.
“The scope and breadth of India’s space program is impressive”, said Dr. Marc Garneau, President of CSA. “The ISRO program is both ambitious and diversified. The Memorandum lays the framework for continuing cooperation in projects and activities in which we share a common interest.
“It recognizes the similarities in the objectives and vision of our space programs and reflects the determination of our organizations to continue to work closely together to generate concrete economic, technological and scientific benefits for our citizens and humanity.”
In welcoming Dr. Garneau and his delegation to India for the agreement’s signing Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, Chairman of ISRO said, “We share common needs for telecommunications, meteorology, disaster warning as well as natural resources management and environmental monitoring. This renewed collaboration between CSA and ISRO demonstrates our mutual commitment to pursue common projects and develop business alliances benefiting both of our countries, now and into the future.”
The Memorandum will foster the study of cooperative programs in satellite communications and satellite remote sensing as well as encouraging cooperation in the field of exploration and use of space by the private sector and academia in both countries.
Both parties also signed a letter referring to the several projects and activities in which ISRO and CSA have a joint interest.
Such projects include: the possible participation in a Moon Orbiter mission, an agreement for Launch Early Operations Phases — which could be applied for the upcoming launch of SCISAT-1; the support of the United Nation Space Science and Technology Education Centre in India; and collaboration in the ASTROSAT/UVIT (Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope) mission.
The signing of the Memorandum took place at ISRO Headquarters in Bangalore, India. In attendance with Dr. Garneau were representatives of the Canadian space industry: Communications Research Centre, BOT Engineering, COM DEV, EMS Technologies Canada, ICT Development Group, Info-Electronics Systems, MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA), Oasis Geomatics Inc., PCI Geomatics, RADARSAT International (RSI), TATA Consultancy Services.
