MOSCOW, October 1 (RIA Novosti) – The United States and India have signed two agreements according to which NASA and the ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) will roll out a joint satellite mission to explore Earth's surface.
"The signing of these two documents reflects the strong commitment NASA and ISRO have to advancing science and improving life on Earth," NASA administrator Charles Bolden said in a statement published on the agency's website Tuesday. "This partnership will yield tangible benefits to both our countries and the world."
The documents, signed in Toronto, will allow the two countries to pursue common ends, such as the identification and implementation of scientific, programmatic and technological goals. Additionally, they will also establish a pathway to explore Mars in the future.
The United States and India also signed an international agreement defining the procedures NASA and ISRO will need in their work on the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, which is scheduled to be launched in 2020. The joint venture will seek to conduct global measurements of the causes that bring about changes to Earth's surface.
"NASA and Indian scientists have a long history of collaboration in space science," John Grunsfeld, NASA associate administrator for science, said. "These new agreements between NASA and ISRO in Earth science and Mars exploration will significantly strengthen our ties and the science that we will be able to produce as a result."
According to the statement, NASA and ISRO will convene an annual meeting to discuss their current and future activities.
