ISRO and ESA sign agreement for Earth Observation missions

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed a joint agreement on ‘ESA-ISRO Arrangement on Joint Calibration and Verification Activities and Scientific Studies for Earth Observation Missions’.

The agreement was signed on March 4 by ISRO scientific secretary M. Ganesh Pillai and ESA Earth Observation Program director Simonetta Cheli in virtual meeting mode.

ISRO said that this event highlights the strength of long-term cooperation between two globally significant space research organizations since 1978, followed by renewed cooperation in 2002.

The signing ceremony was marked by enthusiastic statements from dignitaries about the legacy and the upcoming opportunities made possible by research and discovery platforms. Achievements in the field of Earth Observation, navigation, ground station support and human spaceflight were also mentioned.

Ms. Cheli emphasized the timeliness of the regulation, which includes the need for a better understanding of vegetation biology as well as the establishment of calibration and verification campaigns for subsequent evaluation, especially in the light of the upcoming and innovative sensor FLEX.

Mr. Pillai recalled the multi-theme collaboration with ESA in terms of the Joint Declaration of Intent for Human Spaceflight, including ground station support for Chandrayaan, Aditya missions, support from ISRO’s Deep Space Antenna, discussion between the President, ISRO and DG, ESA and the India-EU Space Dialogue in Brussels.

He expressed how the upcoming missions will go a long way in helping the planet and people and the need to work closely in the future and lauded the contribution of ISRO members from EDPO, OIIC, Part-X,DOS in achieving the agreement.