Overview
- The agreement was signed virtually on March 4 by ISRO Scientific Secretary M. Ganesh Pillai and ESA Earth Observation Director Simonetta Cheli.
- The arrangement covers joint calibration and validation activities as well as collaborative scientific studies for upcoming Earth observation missions.
- Cheli called the move timely in light of ESA’s FLEX mission, which will measure vegetation fluorescence to advance understanding of plant biology.
- Pillai highlighted ongoing cooperation spanning navigation, ground-station support, human spaceflight discussions and support for Chandrayaan and Aditya-L1 using ISRO’s deep space antenna.
- ISRO said the accord strengthens long-standing ties first established in 1978 and renewed in 2002, with future joint calibration campaigns and studies expected.