India inks pact with France on space cooperation

Bangalore, Sep 30 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has signed three agreements with France, which has been a partner in progress in the field of space technology since decades, during his visit to the European country during the last two days.

The agreements were aimed to address government, academic and industry-level cooperation.

Indian Space Research Organiation (ISRO) and French National Space Agency (CNES) have been collaborating in the space technology since 1993, under which joint satellite missions like Megha-Tropiques and SARAL had been taken up to study the atmosphere and the oceans.

In addition, many commercial and collaborative activities, specifically in the launch services, space applications and academics have been pursued with France.

According to an ISRO release here today, the three agreements were a framework agreement on cooperation between the two governments in the field of exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, an MoU between Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) and Ecole Polytechnique for furthering academics and research activities and an agreement signed by the ISRO Chairman and Astrium CEO Francois Auque to work for in-orbit delivery of earth observations satellites.

These agreements would boost the relationship between two countries in the area of space and encourage further cooperation, the release added.

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