January 8, 2020
India and Mongolia to benefit from shared knowledge on space science and technology
Areas of cooperation include remote sensing, satellite communications and satnav, exploration, and proper utilisation of ground and space systems
Joint working group to be set up to focus on implementation timelines and strategies
Financial implications to be jointly decided by the participants involved, based on fund availability
The Government of India signed an agreement with the Government of Mongolia on September 20 for cooperation on space exploration, and its potential uses for peaceful and civilian purposes. Approved by the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the agreement was signed during a state visit of the President of Mongolia to India, according to an official Cabinet release. The draft agreement for India-Mongolia space cooperation, approved by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman and Department of Space Secretary, Dr. Kailasavadivoo Sivan, was first created and shared as per a request from the Indian embassy in Mongolia.
Through this agreement, India and Mongolia will benefit from shared knowledge on space science and the technology involved. The areas of cooperation will include remote sensing of the earth, satellite communication and satellite-based navigation, planetary exploration, and how best to leverage spacecrafts, space systems, and ground systems. Not only will these joint activities in research and development benefit both countries, but will also encourage further understanding of space technologies and its many valuable applications.
In addition to cooperation on knowledge sharing, the agreement has outlined plans for setting up a joint working group between the two countries, incorporating members from both India’s DOS or ISRO and the Communications and Information Technology Authority of the Government of Mongolia. The group will focus their efforts on ironing out the details of the cooperation, including tentative timelines and implementation strategies for the agreement. With regards to the financial implications of the same, both countries have arranged to have it jointly decided by the participants involved, on a case to case basis, and determined by the availability of funds.
The agreement is one of the many steps taken to help bolster ISRO operations in 2020, following an earlier announcement of plans to embark on up to 25 space missions in the new year, kick-starting the next decade of space exploration and discovery for India.