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EMBASSY OF INDIA – PARIS
BRIEF ON THE SPACE WING ACTIVITIES
The Space Wing is responsible for co-ordination of all Space-related activities between India and France. The Wing also caters to the same activities with all other European countries as well. The Space Wing also functions as the ISRO Technical Liaison Unit (ITLU) for Europe.
HISTORY OF INDO-FRENCH SPACE CO-OPERATION:
France is actively involved in the Indian Space Programme right from the beginning. French scientists and engineers had actively participated in the setting up of and initial launches from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in the early sixties which was established for weather studies using sounding rockets and was dedicated to the United Nations. The Satellite Telecommunications Experiments Project (STEP) carried out in India in the seventies, much before embarking on a formal communication satellite programme, was carried out with the help of the Franco-German satellite SYMPHONIE.
Subsequent to this, several ISRO engineers were exposed to the aerospace facilities and activities in France under an agremeent between ISRO and French Space Agency (CNES).
The first Indian Experimental Communications Satellite, APPLE, was launched free of cost on the third ever flight of the European launcher, Ariane, under an agreement between ISRO and the European Space Agency, ESA.
In the late seventies, ISRO participated in the development of a liquid propulsion rocket engine in France. Subsequent to the successful development of this engine, ISRO gained the capability of design and manufacturing of this engine in India. France supported this in the initial phases of indigenous development and also extended their test facilities to qualify the initial Indian engines in the 80s.
It may be noted that the engine evolved out of this co-operation continues to be the mainstay for ISRO’s launch vehicles as far as liquid propulsion is concerned.
1. Co-operation with CNES :
Co-operation with CNES (the French National Space Centre) covers a period of more than three decades. At present, a Co-operation Agreement between ISRO and CNES is in effect.
ISRO and CNES are working as equal partners in a scientific satellite programme called Megha-Tropiques. This is the first time that India is working on an equal level with an advanced space-faring country in a major space mission. A Memorandum of Understanding for the final phase of this Project was signed in November 2004. The Project is progressing well for the launch of MeghaTropiques in 2007/2008.
Similiarly, noting the strength and capabilities of the Indian Space Programme, CNES had invited ISRO to join the International Charter on Space & Major Disasters jointly floated by them with ESA. ISRO had accepted the invitation and joined the same. This Charter is playing a major role globally in many post-disaster rehabilitation activities.
A Joint Working Group (JWG) has been formed between ISRO & CNES and the meetings of JWG are taking place regularly once every six months. Several areas of mutual interest are being discussed.
ISRO has accepted to prepare a separate spacecraft including ‘Argos’ instrument as a part of the Argos programme and altimeter payload as a part of ALTIKA program.
2. Co-operation with ESA :
ISRO is having continuous co-operation with ESA from the inception of ESA under various joint projects.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has approved the budget for funding three experiments which will go on-board with Chandrayaan-I, India’s first scientific mission to the Moon. Follow-up meetings are being conducted to review the progress.
3. Arianespace :
We are launching our INSAT satellites using Arianespace launchers for the last twenty years under commercial agreements. The recent launch of INSAT-4A and the next launch of 4B satellites are from French Guyana. The successful launch of INSAT-4A was carried out in December 2005. Activities have started for the launch of INSAT-4B in February/March 2007.
A one-day Workshop with Arianespace to commemorate the 25th anniversary celebration of the APPLE launch by Ariane was conducted on June 16, 2006. Top-level executives from the Space agencies/industries from France participated. From India, the people who contributed for the APPLE launch, participated in this. The achievements of Indian Space Programme were highlighted and a strong foundation was laid for the future co-operation with Europe.
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