📋 Tender Overview
In a nutshell it should suffice to say that India and the USA are to break new ground in the Space. And the credit goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who during the last 9 years took a series of unorthodox and path-breaking decisions which enabled India to achieve a quantum jump in our Space sector capabilities as a result of which the USA which had begun its space journey several years before us is today seeking collaboration with us as an equal partner.This was stated here today by Union Minister of State Independent Charge Science Technology MoS PMO Personnel Public Grievances Pensions Atomic Energy and Space Dr Jitendra Singh while briefing the media about several significant decisions and agreements accomplished during Prime Minister Narendra Modis ongoing USA visit especially with relation to signing of Artemis Accord and Joint Indo-US mission to the International Space Station in 2024.Could anything give us greater pride than to realise that the country like USA which landed the first human being on the surface of Moon when we were singing nursery rhymes about Moon is today seeking our inputs and our expertise on Moon mission he said.Explaining to the media the Minister said the purpose of the Artemis Accord is a common vision with USA and other countries via principles guidelines and best practices so that we could supplement each others activities for peaceful purposes with transparency and also work together for avoiding harmful activities.On the other hand the joint mission to the International Space Station said Dr Jitendra Singh which is separate of signing of the Artemis Accord will develop a framework for joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024 which the USA envisages as a possibility for closer cooperation between the space agencies of the two countries to get closer to the realities of Moon and subsequently to Mars and other planets.As for Science Technology Dr Jitendra Singh informed that on Semiconductors Micron will invest 800 Million Dollars with additional financial support from Indian government. Similarly US Quantum Consortium has welcomed and invited the Indian Quantum industry as its members.The agreement signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modis historic US visit between India and the US on cooperation in Space Research will take our bilateral relations to a new high said Dr Jitendra Singh.As PM Modi said Even sky is not the limit for cooperation with the US the Minister said.Dr Jitendra Singh said India will contribute to the International Space Station next year as part of the India-US collaboration in the Space Science field. US President Joe Biden has already confirmed this in the White House after a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. Dr Jitendra Singh said ISRO is likely to team up with NASA as it plans to return to the moon with a manned mission by 2025.The joint statement by India and the United States during PM Modis ongoing visit said NASA would provide advanced training to Indian astronauts at one of its facilities.Dr Jitendra Singh said as per the Artemis Accord India can participate in the US led Artemis programme for exploration of moon and other celestial objects under common protocols. The pact will also pave the way for easing restrictions on import of critical technologies in the space domain especially electronics benefitting Indian companies to develop systems and innovate for US markets. It will also facilitate participation of India in more scientific programmes jointly allow access to common standards for long term engagements in activities including human Spaceflight programmes and stronger engagements with the US in more strategic areas including micro-electronics quantum space security etc.Dr Jitendra Singh said America today realizes the importance of partnering with us. Though India and the US have been collaborating in the Space sector for long but the journey in the last nine years of the Modi Government has really taken off on a growth trajectory. India is no longer lagging behind in Space exploration and today we are equal partners in Deep Space Missions he said. Dr Jitendra Singh clarified there are virtually no restrictions and no technology denial by the US. In fact we are today technologically capable he said.Dr Jitendra Singh said the ISRO has earned considerable foreign exchange by launching satellites for global clients. ISRO in association with its commercial arms has successfully launched 385 foreign satellites from 34 countries on board PSLV. Almost 90 of this revenue has been generated in the last nine years he said.The Artemis Accord was signed on October 13 2020 by eight Founder Nations - Australia Canada Italy Japan Luxembourg UAE UK and the United States. Its members include the traditional US allies like Japan France New Zealand UK Canada South Korea Australia and Spain while African nations like Rwanda Nigeria etc are the new partners. Out of 22 European nations only eight Luxembourg Italy UK Romania Poland France Czech Republic and Spain have signed the accord.The Artemis Accord is a non-binding agreement with no financial commitments. The purpose of these Accords is to establish a common vision via a practical set of principles guidelines and best practices to enhance the governance of the civil exploration and use of outer space with intension of advancing the Artemis program. Adherence to a practical set of principles guidelines and best practices in carrying out activities in outer space is intended to increase the safety of operations reduce uncertainty and promote the sustainable and beneficial use of space for all humankind.
