1. India and France share a unique and historical partnership in the peaceful uses of outer space. Cooperation and collaboration has been a hallmark between the two countries as they have emerged as important space faring nations.
2. The Indo-French relationship in space is spread over different facets of space science, technology and applications, including sounding rocket development, liquid engine development, hosting of payloads, joint satellite realization, training programmes,
satellite corrununication experiment and satellite launches. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the French National Space Agency (CNES) have jointly realized two world-class space Missions.
3. To enable and guide the future direction of bilateral strategic partnership in this area, India and France have agreed on this Joint Vision for Space Cooperation.
3.1 Bringing societal benefits of space technology: Both sides will cooperate in remote sensing of earth using satellite, including (i) joint development of advanced instruments and joint missions to study weather and climate;
(ii) sharing of data including direct reception from each other's Earth observation missions meant for Meteorology, Oceanography, Resource inventory and Cartography; and (iii) sharing of expertise in data analysis including algorithm development and modeling
to derive useful information for the benefit of humanity.
3.2 Imaging Earth in high resolution: The successful partnership evolved over the years would be extended to the area of high resolution earth observation to realize a joint earth observation mission with high resolution
imaging capability in optical and microwave domains.
3.3 Space domain and situational awareness: ISRO and CNES would work together for the design and development of joint products and techniques, including those involving Automatic Identification System (AIS), to monitor
and protect the assets in land and sea. In particular, both sides will pursue the study of a constellation of satellites for maritime surveillance. The agencies would also cooperate to protect their respective space based assets, including by infrastructure
and information sharing on space events and India and France will also develop a wider dialogue on space situational awareness.
3.4 Addressing the Global Challenges including climate change: ISRO and CNES would jointly address the global challenges like climate change through joint missions, advanced processing tools and also mobilizing expertise
and resources from other space-faring nations. In particular, both sides will pursue their cooperation for climate monitoring on the joint missions Megha- Tropiques and Saral-Altika, the ongoing studies of the Trishna satellite for land Infrared monitoring
and the Oceansat3-Argos mission;
3.5 Cooperation in satellite navigation and related technologies: ISRO and CNES would cooperate on sharing expertise on satellite navigation notably on (i) system performance assessment by independent means (for instance
through reference stations in France and India to improve satellites' orbit determination and clock estimation for the Indian and European navigational systems); and (ii) navigation applications.
3.6 Exploring the solar system and beyond: ISRO and CNES would work together on (i) autonomous navigation of rovers in Moon, Mars and other planets; (ii) aero braking technologies for planetary exploration; (iii) modeling
of Mars and Venus atmosphere; and (iv) inflatable systems for Venus exploration. Both sides can embark on complex high technology space science and planetary exploration missions in future.
In particular, CNES could provide support to ISRO for the navigation of future moon rovers; CNES and ISRO, with the support of Laboratoire de meteorologic dynamique (LMD, CNRS), will jointly work on the modeling of Mars and Venus atmostpheres; CNES could be
involved in the definition of the scientific goals and preparatory studies of the future planetary missions of ISRO; and both agencies will study the possibility of embarking French science instruments on board the future interplanetary (Moon, Mars and asteroids)
Indian missions.
3.7 Cooperation on Space Transportation Systems:
ISRO and CNES would collaborate, in accordance with India's and France's international commitments, on the development of (i) technologies for Liquid Oxygen-methane propulsion engine; (ii) reusable launch vehicle (including common experiments on RL V); and
(iii) special materials, nano-materials, advanced composites, polymers, chemicals, nanotechnologies and manufacturing technologies.
3.8 Developing technologies for human exploration of the universe:ISRO and CNES would jointly develop capabilities and critical technologies addressing (i) radiation shielding solutions; (ii) personnel hygiene and waste
management system; and (iii) design of man-in-loop simulators for human space flight as well as Bioastronautics.
3.9 Cooperation on International issues: As active players within the United Nations and other fora, and in consistency with their international commitments, France and India would cooperate regularly on international issues
of common importance including space security, safety and sustainability.
India and France undertake to implement and take forward their cooperation in the above agreed areas through suitable existing or new joint mechanisms, including with inter-agency representations, led by ISRO and CNES respectively. The progress and outcomes
will be reported to the bilateral Strategic Dialogue for review and assessment.
4. The strategic cooperation in this field would be implemented through the umbrella
Program MOU signed in April 2015, as also other implementing arrangements, working group meetings, symposiums and training programmes, as mutually agreed.
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