- ISRO will source payloads and satellites from Indian companies.
- US-India space collaboration discussed, including potential “QUAD satellite.”
- Joint initiatives with NASA aim to advance space technology and human spaceflight.
For the first time, ISRO will source payloads and satellites from Indian companies, advancing payload technology and space hardware outside ISRO labs. This initiative aims to elevate Indian firms to the global stage by involving them in diverse space missions.
ISRO Chairman Somanath S highlighted this strategic move during a discussion with US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, at ISRO headquarters. The meeting focused on enhancing US-India space collaboration, emphasizing shared goals in advancing space science, technology, and the economy. They explored opportunities for developing advanced detectors and packaging technologies through US-India academic partnerships.
Garcetti proposed an innovative “QUAD satellite” involving India, the US, Japan, and Australia, further strengthening international cooperation. He tweeted about the ongoing projects and the strong US-India space commitment, particularly within the US India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).
ISRO and NASA are pursuing joint initiatives, such as the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) project, to map Earth’s surface and monitor climate change. They also discussed using the Gaganyaan cargo module for transferring cargo to the International Space Station (ISS), highlighting the growing synergy among global space agencies.
