India and Mauritius Ink Deal for Joint Small Satellite Development

By siliconindia  |  Saturday, 06 January 2024, 07:14:16 AM IST

India and Mauritius Ink Deal for Joint Small Satellite Development
In a noteworthy advancement for international space cooperation, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) have formally entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the collaborative development and deployment of a Joint Small Satellite. The Union Cabinet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was briefed about the MoU. The agreement, inked in Port Louis, Mauritius, pertains to collaboration between India's ISRO and Mauritius' Ministry of Information Technology, Communication, and Innovation, as outlined in a statement.
The central objective of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is the collaborative development of a Joint Small Satellite, signifying a pivotal milestone in the continuous space partnership between India and Mauritius. This partnership goes beyond the mere creation of the satellite, encompassing the shared utilization of MRIC's Ground Station.
The partnership aims to involve Indian industries in the development of certain subsystems for the joint satellite, fostering benefits for the industry and potentially generating employment opportunities. The estimated cost for the realization of this joint satellite is Rs 20 crore, solely funded by the Government of India, with no other financial exchanges between the involved parties.
The strategic cooperation serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it establishes a framework for joint satellite development, ensuring continuous support from the Mauritius Government for ISRO/India’s ground station in Mauritius, crucial for launch vehicle and satellite missions. Secondly, the collaboration opens avenues for MRIC’s support from their ground station for future small satellite missions by ISRO.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) delineates a timeline for implementation, targeting the joint completion of the small satellite within a 15-month timeframe. The signing of this MoU occurred during the visit of the Minister of State (MEA) to Mauritius for the 'Aapravasi Diwas' event, underscoring the dedication to strengthening space cooperation between the two countries.
This partnership is an extension of the enduring space collaboration initiated in the late 1980s when ISRO established a ground station in Mauritius, offering tracking and telemetry assistance for ISRO's launch vehicles and satellite missions. The ongoing framework for space cooperation, governed by a bilateral agreement signed in 2009, is adapting and progressing with this recent initiative. This reflects the mutual dedication to advancing space capabilities between India and Mauritius.

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