Isro to team up with academic institutes to boost space technology

MUMBAI: Isro called upon Indian academic institutes on Thursday to team up with it to strengthen space technology. The new initiative is called Space—National Academic Partner (S-NAP). According to Isro, there are many institutes which have developed expertise in certain fields. Keeping this in view, Isro has decided to knock at the doors of academic institutes to seek their expertise to further space technology in India.

Some fields of interest include satellite communication, satellite navigation applications development and ground segment, metallurgy and material science, image processing, space sciences, computer science and robotics. “This collaboration will enable institutes to access Isro facilities and its scientists and engineers. The institute partnering with Isro will be involved in decision-making regarding the adoption of new technologies and applications,” the space agency stated.

Meanwhile, India and France decided to strengthen collaboration in the field of human spaceflight and lay the groundwork for missions of future Indian astronauts.

This was firmed up on Wednesday when Isro chairman K Sivan and CNES president Jean-Yves Le Gall signed an agreement in Bengaluru. A team of experts from Isro will start receiving training this month at the Toulouse Space Centre in France, the CADMOS centre for the development of microgravity applications and the MEDES space clinic, according to an announcement by French Embassy in New Delhi.