May 25th 2024.
The US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, recently proposed a joint venture between India and the US to develop a "QUAD satellite". During his visit to Bengaluru on Friday, he paid a visit to the headquarters of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and met with the Chairman, S Somanath. The two discussed the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the field of space.
According to a statement released by ISRO, Ambassador Garcetti suggested the development of a "QUAD satellite" during their meeting. Chairman Somanath also highlighted the opportunity for collaboration with academic institutions in the US and India to advance detector and packaging technologies. He also stressed the importance of standardizing docking interfaces for human space programs, which would allow other countries to utilize space platforms. Additionally, the two discussed the possibility of working together to build a navigation system on the moon, either in orbit or on the surface.
In a tweet on Saturday, Ambassador Garcetti expressed his honor at meeting Chairman Somanath and his commitment to strengthening the partnership between the two countries in the field of space. He mentioned the advancement of the NISAR satellite, human spaceflight, and commercial space endeavors as areas of focus for the US-India space collaboration.
During their discussions, both sides emphasized their mutual interests and shared goals in advancing space science, technology, and the space economy. They also touched upon various ongoing collaborations, including joint working groups, the Artemis Accord, and the use of the Laser Reflectometer Array on Chandrayaan-3.
Ambassador Garcetti also inquired about the role of the Department of Space in promoting commercial space activities. Chairman Somanath explained that for the first time, Indian facilities outside of ISRO labs are being used to develop payload technology and space-bound hardware. The hope is to source payloads and satellites for ISRO's programs from Indian companies and give them access to the global market.
Their discussions also included NASA's involvement in India's proposal for a G-20 satellite to monitor environment and climate change, and the encouragement of cooperation between commercial companies from both countries for quicker and more effective results. They also discussed the potential use of the Gaganyaan cargo module to transport cargo to the International Space Station.
Ambassador Garcetti expressed his admiration for ISRO's achievements and its role in global space exploration. They also touched upon future programs, such as exchange visits between professionals from both sides, continuation of balloon experiments, and identifying milestone events.
Overall, the meeting between Ambassador Garcetti and Chairman Somanath was productive and highlighted the strong partnership between India and the US in the field of space. They are both committed to furthering this collaboration and achieving shared goals through the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology.
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