The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) formally agreed on December 4, 2024, to support ISRO’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission with base stations. The goal of this partnership is to improve monitoring and communication for the Gaganyaan missions, which include two uncrewed flights and a crewed trip scheduled for 2025.
A Technical Implementing Plan, which is part of the agreement, describes how ESA will use its extensive global network of ground stations to help ISRO track and monitor the Gaganyaan crew module. In order to guarantee smooth data flow and communication during the missions, this support is essential.
at addition to other antennas from the Spanish National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), ESA will make use of its 15-meter antenna at Kourou, French Guiana. Throughout the missions, this network will enable real-time tracking and command capabilities.
ESA’s Ground Segment Reference Facility in Germany is scheduled to conduct compatibility testing on a suitcase-sized model of Gaganyaan’s radio equipment. The success of the mission depends on the spacecraft’s radio systems being able to communicate with ESA’s antennas. These tests will guarantee this.
This deal expands on ISRO and ESA’s long-standing cooperation, which has supported several missions like Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1. As ISRO develops its human spaceflight capabilities through the Gaganyaan program, the relationship is viewed as a major advancement in international space cooperation.
By utilising ESA’s vast ground operations and communications experience, the agency’s contribution to ISRO’s Gaganyaan missions marks a significant improvement in India’s human spaceflight capabilities.
