To strengthen Indo-French cooperation in the field of space technology, India and France on January 25 signed two pacts that will significantly enable them in monitoring environment, weather and water resources. Implementing arrangements were signed between the space agencies of the two countries for cooperation in a future joint Thermal Infrared Earth Observation mission and hosting of the French instrument for data collection on India’s Oceasnsat-3 satellite. The agreements were among the 14 pacts signed between the two countries after extensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande which focused on ways to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism, security and civil nuclear energy.
Background:-
- Modi and Hollande hailed the signing of two implementing arrangements between their space agencies while recalling the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Indo-French space cooperation in 2015.
- According to a joint statement, the Leaders expressed confidence that these missions would contribute significantly to the monitoring of the environment, weather, water resources and coastal zones and further strengthen the partnership between the two countries.
- They also welcomed the announcement of collaboration through the participation of the Centre National d’etudes spatiales (CNES) in future space and planetary exploration missions of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
India-France space field:-
- India and France have had long-lasting cooperation in the field of space.
- While India has used French facilities at the Guiana Space Centre near Kourou in French Guiana for launch of its satellites, the European nation’s light satellites were launched by it.
- France has appreciated India’s capabilities of sending light satellites into the orbit.
- It is also one of the few countries, which has a Space Counsellor in Bangalore, where the headquaters of ISRO is located.
