The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have jointly signed an agreement on ‘ESA-ISRO Arrangement concerning Joint Calibration and Validation Activities and Scientific Studies for Earth Observation Missions’.

The agreement was signed on March 4 by M. Ganesh Pillai, scientific secretary, ISRO, and Simonetta Cheli, director, Earth Observation Programme, ESA, in a virtual meeting mode.

ISRO said that this event highlights the strength of the long-term cooperation in place since 1978 and subsequent renewal in 2002 between two globally significant space research organisations.

The signing ceremony was marked by spirited remarks from the dignitaries regarding the legacy as well as upcoming opportunities rendered possible by research and exploration platforms. Accomplishments in the field of Earth Observation, navigation, ground station support as well as human space flight were also referred to.

Ms. Cheli emphasised the timeliness of the arrangement, especially in the light of upcoming and innovative sensor FLEX, meant to understand the vegetation biology better as well as the need of setting up calibration and validation campaigns for subsequent valorisation.

Mr Pillai recalled the multi-themed cooperation with ESA in terms of ground station support for Chandrayaan, Aditya missions, support from ISRO’s Deep Space Antenna, Joint Statement of intent for Human Spaceflight, including discussion between Chairman, ISRO and DG, ESA and India-EU space Dialogue at Brussels.

He reflected on how upcoming missions will go a long way in helping the planet as well as people and the need for working closely in future and commended the contribution of ISRO members from EDPO, OIIC, Section-X,DOS for realising the agreement.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have jointly signed an agreement on ‘ESA-ISRO Arrangement concerning Joint Calibration and Validation Activities and Scientific Studies for Earth Observation Missions’.

The agreement was signed on March 4 by M. Ganesh Pillai, scientific secretary, ISRO, and Simonetta Cheli, director, Earth Observation Programme, ESA, in a virtual meeting mode.

ISRO said that this event highlights the strength of the long-term cooperation in place since 1978 and subsequent renewal in 2002 between two globally significant space research organisations.

The signing ceremony was marked by spirited remarks from the dignitaries regarding the legacy as well as upcoming opportunities rendered possible by research and exploration platforms. Accomplishments in the field of Earth Observation, navigation, ground station support as well as human space flight were also referred to.

Ms. Cheli emphasised the timeliness of the arrangement, especially in the light of upcoming and innovative sensor FLEX, meant to understand the vegetation biology better as well as the need of setting up calibration and validation campaigns for subsequent valorisation.

Mr Pillai recalled the multi-themed cooperation with ESA in terms of ground station support for Chandrayaan, Aditya missions, support from ISRO’s Deep Space Antenna, Joint Statement of intent for Human Spaceflight, including discussion between Chairman, ISRO and DG, ESA and India-EU space Dialogue at Brussels.

He reflected on how upcoming missions will go a long way in helping the planet as well as people and the need for working closely in future and commended the contribution of ISRO members from EDPO, OIIC, Section-X,DOS for realising the agreement.

A venerable institution, facing accusations of opacity, decided to stun its detractors with some transparency. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) made public the report of a technical committee, constituted to analyse why the NVS-02 satellite, which was launched aboard a GSLV rocket on January 29, 2025, could not be placed in its intended orbit. Until this week, there was no official explanation why this had happened. An accompanying press statement — not a report it must be noted — surmised that an ‘apex’ committee had concluded that a signal meant to activate a key valve in the engine’s oxidiser line never reached it. This valve is crucial for firing the engine to raise the spacecraft’s orbit and this likely happened because at least one connection in the electrical connector — in both the primary and backup lines — came loose or failed, preventing the signal from getting through. All of this is useful information, but only for ISRO to be cautious in future missions. In fact, the press statement continued, these learnings were “successfully implemented” in a November 2, 2025 mission by the LVM-3 M5 launch vehicle that placed the GSAT-7R, India’s heaviest communication satellite, in its intended orbit. When the ISRO releases a statement on an event from a year ago, it must strive to illuminate rather than be seen to declassify under duress. It should have revealed whether the connection came loose because of an oversight; whether multiple levels of personnel — or machines — who scrutinise every nut and screw on the assembly line failed, or if a manufacturing anomaly had compounded over time in a way that would have escaped detection even by the most vigilant overseers.

At the other end, doing so reinforces public confidence in the institution. It should be able to reveal such information without blaming individuals or withholding proprietary or strategic information. Making such ‘Failure Analysis’ reports public, as they are called, used to be a routine affair. However, ISRO seems to have retreated into a shell following the back-to-back failures of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles in January and in May 2025. In fact, beyond the technical committees— another committee has been set up to probe “systemic issues” underlying the failures of these rockets — ISRO should not choose insularity at a time when traditional business models all over the world are being disrupted.

India’s first dedicated Space Astronomy Observatory, AstroSat completed a decade of operations on Sunday (September 28, 2025).  

Ten years ago, on September 28, 2015, the AstroSat was launched by PSLV-C30 (XL) rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota with a mission life of five years. Though the designed mission life of AstroSat was five years it continues to provide valuable data.

In the last decade, the multi wavelength space observatory with five payloads onboard has made major interesting discoveries.

Commemorating the milestone in a post on X, the Indian Space Research Organisation said, “On this day 10 years ago, AstroSat, India’s first multi wavelength astronomy observatory was launched by ISRO. From black holes to neutron stars, from the nearest star Proxima Centauri to first time detection of FUV photons from galaxies 9.3 billion light years away, AstroSat enabled groundbreaking insights across the electromagnetic spectrum from UV/Visible to high energy X-rays. Congratulating AstroSat for a successful decade and wishing many more years of exciting results and discoveries.”

Five payloads

AstroSat was designed to observe the universe in the Visible, Ultraviolet, low and high energy X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum simultaneously with the help of its five payloads.

The five scientific payloads onboard the satellite are Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT), Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC), Cadmium–Zinc–Telluride Imager (CZTI), Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) and Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM).

Astrosat was realised by ISRO with the participation of all major astronomy institutions including Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) of Pune, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) at Mumbai, Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIAP) and Raman Research Institute (RRI) of Bengaluru as well as some of the universities in India and two institutions from Canada and the UK.

India’s first dedicated Space Astronomy Observatory, AstroSat has completed a decade of operations on Sunday (September 28, 2025).  

Ten years ago, on September 28, 2015, the AstroSat was launched by PSLV-C30 (XL) rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota with a mission life of five years. Though the designed mission life of AstroSat was five years it continues to provide valuable data.

In the last decade, the multi wavelength space observatory with five payloads onboard has made major interesting discoveries.

Commemorating the milestone in a post on X, the Indian Space Research Organisation said, “On this day 10 years ago, AstroSat, India’s first multi wavelength astronomy observatory was launched by ISRO. From black holes to neutron stars, from the nearest star Proxima Centauri to first time detection of FUV photons from galaxies 9.3 billion light years away, AstroSat enabled groundbreaking insights across the electromagnetic spectrum from UV/Visible to high energy X-rays. Congratulating AstroSat for a successful decade and wishing many more years of exciting results and discoveries.”

Five payloads

AstroSat was designed to observe the universe in the Visible, Ultraviolet, low and high energy X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum simultaneously with the help of its five payloads.

The five scientific payloads onboard the satellite are Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT), Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC), Cadmium–Zinc–Telluride Imager (CZTI), Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) and Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM).

Astrosat was realised by ISRO with the participation of all major astronomy institutions including Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) of Pune, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) at Mumbai, Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIAP) and Raman Research Institute (RRI) of Bengaluru as well as some of the universities in India and two institutions from Canada and the UK.

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has facilitated the transfer of five technologies developed by ISRO to five Indian companies.

IN-SPACe which is the single window agency for all space sector activities of private entities, said that the transfers are aimed at driving commercialisation, strengthening self-reliance, reducing imports, and enabling wider applications of space technologies in sectors such as automotive, biomedical, and industrial manufacturing.

For biomedical use

It added that one of the technologies, the Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic (LTCC) Multi-Chip Module, developed by Space Application Centre (SAC), enables the integration of multiple semiconductor chips into a single compact module.

This has been acquired by M/s Voltix Semicon Pvt. Ltd., Pune, for biomedical use, particularly in RT-PCR kits requiring high-volume production. Voltix currently depends on imports for this technology; the Transfer of Technology (ToT) will enhance domestic capability and self-reliance.

For solar panel bonding

Another, the RTV Silicone Single-Part Adhesive (SILCEM R9), developed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is a room-temperature curable adhesive. It has been acquired by M/s Crest Speciality Resins Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad, for solar panel bonding.

“At present, this adhesive is imported; the ToT will ensure local availability, reduce dependence on imports, and boost indigenisation,” IN-SPACe said.

For industrial use

The other three technologies that were transferred to industries are: Azista Composites Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad – Film Adhesives EFA 1753 and EFA 1752 developed by VSSC; Ananth Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad – 30W HMC DC-DC Converter developed by UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC); and Pushpak Aerospace India Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru – Anodisation of 3D-printed Al-10Si-Mg alloy developed by URSC.

“These transfers highlight the growing capability and confidence of Indian industry. While some of these technologies will directly substitute imports, others will unlock applications well beyond the space sector. The true impact will be realised when industry scales them up for widespread use. IN-SPACe, together with ISRO and NewSpace India Limited, will remain a strong partner in enabling that journey,’’ Dr. Pawan Goenka, chairman, IN-SPACe, said.

Rajeev Jyoti, director, Technical Directorate, IN-SPACe, said that with the transfer of the five Technology Transfer Agreements (TTAs), the total number of TTAs executed with industries has reached 98.

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) has facilitated the transfer of five technologies developed by ISRO to five Indian companies.

IN-SPACe which is the single window agency for all space sector activities of private entities, said that the transfers are aimed at driving commercialisation, strengthening self-reliance, reducing imports, and enabling wider applications of space technologies in sectors such as automotive, biomedical, and industrial manufacturing.

For biomedical use

It added that one of the technologies, the Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic (LTCC) Multi-Chip Module, developed by Space Application Centre (SAC), enables the integration of multiple semiconductor chips into a single compact module.

This has been acquired by M/s Voltix Semicon Pvt. Ltd., Pune, for biomedical use, particularly in RT-PCR kits requiring high-volume production. Voltix currently depends on imports for this technology; the Transfer of Technology (ToT) will enhance domestic capability and self-reliance.

For solar panel bonding

Another, the RTV Silicone Single-Part Adhesive (SILCEM R9), developed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is a room-temperature curable adhesive. It has been acquired by M/s Crest Speciality Resins Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad, for solar panel bonding.

“At present, this adhesive is imported; the ToT will ensure local availability, reduce dependence on imports, and boost indigenisation,” IN-SPACe said.

For industrial use

The other three technologies that were transferred to industries are: Azista Composites Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad – Film Adhesives EFA 1753 and EFA 1752 developed by VSSC; Ananth Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad – 30W HMC DC-DC Converter developed by UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC); and Pushpak Aerospace India Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru – Anodisation of 3D-printed Al-10Si-Mg alloy developed by URSC.

“These transfers highlight the growing capability and confidence of Indian industry. While some of these technologies will directly substitute imports, others will unlock applications well beyond the space sector. The true impact will be realised when industry scales them up for widespread use. IN-SPACe, together with ISRO and NewSpace India Limited, will remain a strong partner in enabling that journey,’’ Dr. Pawan Goenka, chairman, IN-SPACe, said.

Rajeev Jyoti, director, Technical Directorate, IN-SPACe, said that with the transfer of the five Technology Transfer Agreements (TTAs), the total number of TTAs executed with industries has reached 98.