ESA to explore cooperation with ISRO in human space flight, lunar and Venus missions

The European Space Agency (ESA) will be holding discussions with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on co-operation in human space flight and lunar exploration, during the International Space Summit in Paris, which gets underway on September 9.

A high-level delegation from India is in Paris to take part in the International Space Summit.

Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General, said that he would be holding discussions with ISRO Chairperson Dr. V. Narayanan.

“I am meeting the Chairperson of ISRO. We will make good use of his visit to Paris. We have quite a number of co-operation points between the two agencies, and exploration is a topic of priority,” Mr. Aschbacher told The Hindu.

Elaborating on the potential areas of co-operation between the two space agencies, Daniel Neuenschwander, Director for Human and Robotic Exploration, ESA, said that that they would be exploring co-operations in the areas of human space flight and lunar exploration.

“We have already signed an agreement with ISRO for cooperating on the human space flight (Gaganyaan). If you speak about human space flight you can talk about low Earth orbit. India will soon have its own capability to launch humans in space. India is also developing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station. We are developing certain capabilities and we are exploring how we can mutually benefit from these capabilities to strengthen the partnership. We can certainly start with low Earth orbit but we are also exploring potential cooperation on lunar exploration,” said Mr. Neuenschwander. 

ISRO and ESA have already signed a Technical Implementing Plan (TIP) document for Ground Tracking Support for Gaganyaan missions.

The TIP will enable the ESA to provide ground station support for Gaganyaan missions, which will ensure continuity in data flow and communication with the Orbital Module for monitoring and orbital operations. 

The Gaganyaan project envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission, and bringing them back safely to Earth by landing in Indian sea waters.

Venus mission 

The two space agencies have also been exploring potential cooperation in the Venus Orbiter Mission. 

“We have the Venus science coordination group that partners with those who have interest in missions to Venus. We are speaking to our ISRO colleagues to make sure that the missions complement each other,” said Prof. Carole Mindel, Director of Space, ESA.

India’s maiden mission to Venus — ₹1,236-crore Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) — has been approved by the Union Cabinet and the ISRO.

A spacecraft, which is scheduled for launch in March 2028, will embark on a 112-day journey to Venue, which is the second planet from the Sun. 

According to the targeted launch window for VOM, the Earth departure date is scheduled for March 29, 2028, and the arrival date on Venus is July 19, 2028. VOM will be launched by Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3).

The Indian space agency had earlier said that 19 payloads will be onboard VOM, of which 16 are Indian payloads, two are Indian and international collaborative payloads, and there would be one international payload.

(This reporter is in Paris at the invitation of France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to cover the International Space Summit)