Direct and clear objectives to collaborate with ISRO: ESA chief Josef Aschbacher | Technology News
The European Space Agency (ESA) now has direct and clearer objectives to work with India and is open to collaborating on bigger and unexplored areas of space, said Dr Josef Aschbacher, the ESA director general.
On Wednesday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and ESA inked a Joint Statement of Intent on Human Space Exploration on the sidelines of the Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX) – 2025.
“ESA and ISRO have been collaborating for over 40 years. But we will jointly explore newer areas of space exploration together like never before,” the ISRO chairman, Dr. V Narayanan, said.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Aschbacher said, “ESA is happy partnering with ISRO and we look forward to exploring large-scale space operations. It is a strong recognition both for ESA and ISRO to work together on a domain of space exploration. This is a complete new chapter in our relations.”
While ISRO and ESA are yet to discuss the exact areas of collaboration, Wednesday’s agreement will now pave the way for greater discussions between the two space agencies and the process for which will get underway in the coming months.
Two months ago, the ESA delegation visited India and held preliminary discussions.
Collaborations are being keenly considered on India-proposed building of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS). India plans to build the space station by 2035. In a five-module design, the BAS-1 is scheduled for a launch in 2028.
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“Both India and ESA have ambitious space exploration programmes and we would identify areas that will complement and benefit each other. A lot can be done together,” the ESA chief Aschbacher said.
“Our respective teams will discuss and define concrete actions and areas to collaborate,” the ESA chief said.
ESA is considering the utilisation of BAS once it is built and ready. It is also considering providing ISRO with cargo-delivery support in building the BAS.
The components of the Indian space station are planned to be sent into space as different segments and docked once in space. Earlier this year, ISRO successfully performed the docking and undocking of two satellites in its SpaDeX mission — a demonstration and a skill which will be essential for future space activities like building the BAS.
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The ESA chief, Aschbacher, also said, “ESA is building a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) cargo return service vehicle, and who knows, it may, in future, turn into an astronaut carrying vehicle. This would be of great interest for India, which is planning to send its first human into space.”
The two agencies will work out the working modalities, cost estimates, make best use of expertise available on either side and the governmental-level sanctions both in India and among the 23 ESA member states.
