India-NASA sign for future space exploration

Washington, Feb 2: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and NASA have signed a framework agreement establishing the terms for future cooperation between the two agencies in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.

The agreement was signed on February 1, 2008, at the Kennedy Space Center's visitor complex by NASA Administrator Michael Griffin and ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair. According to the framework agreement, the two agencies will identify areas of mutual interest and seek to develop cooperative programs or projects in Earth and space science, exploration, human space flight and other activities.

"I am honored to sign this agreement with the ISRO. This agreement will allow us to cooperate effectively on a wide range of programs of mutual interest," said Griffin.

"India has extensive space-related experience, capabilities and infrastructure, and will continue to be a welcome partner in NASA's future space exploration activities," he added.

The agreement replaces a soon-to-expire agreement signed on Dec. 16, 1997, which fostered bilateral cooperation in the areas of Earth and atmospheric sciences. In addition to a long history of cooperation in Earth science, NASA and the ISRO also are cooperating on India's first, mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-1, which will be launched later this year.

NASA is providing two of the 11 instruments on the spacecraft: the moon mineralogy mapper instrument and the miniature synthetic aperture radar instrument.

ANI