In a significant stride towards space collaboration, the Union Cabinet has granted approval for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) to jointly undertake the development of a small satellite.
The memorandum, inked in Port Louis, Mauritius, on November 01, 2023, establishes a foundation for collaborative efforts between ISRO and MRIC in satellite development, with the added benefit of utilizing MRIC’s ground station for mutual advantage.
The initiative is anticipated to engage Indian industries in developing specific satellite subsystems, potentially generating employment opportunities. The partnership ensures continuous support from Mauritius for ISRO’s ground station in the country, a critical element for India’s satellite missions. The project, estimated at Rs. 20 crore and funded by the Government of India, is projected to be completed within 15 months.
The roots of space cooperation between India and Mauritius extend back to the late 1980s when ISRO established a ground station in Mauritius to provide tracking and telemetry support for launch vehicle and satellite missions.
A country-level agreement was signed for this purpose in 1986. However, the current framework for space cooperation is governed by a country-level agreement signed in 2009, superseding the earlier 1986 agreement. The recent MoU, signed during Mauritius’ ‘Aapravasi Diwas’ event on November 1, 2023, marks a significant advancement in the collaboration between India and Mauritius in the field of space exploration.