ISRO, NASA join hands to explore outer space for peaceful purposes

New Delhi: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will work together in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Prithviraj Chavan said today in the Lok Sabha.

In a written reply to a question by Badiga Ramakrishna, Chavan said that a framework agreement in this regard had been signed on February 1, 2008 between ISRO and NASA. "The Agreement has an initial validity of ten years, and allows various cooperative activities to be taken up between the two sides under specific Implementing Agreements," he informed.

The areas identified for co-operation include earth science, observation and monitoring, space science, exploration systems, space operations and other relevant areas of mutual interest. The co-operation between ISRO and NASA on Chandrayaan-1 is covered separately under two Memoranda of Understanding signed in May 2006.

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