ABU DHABI: India is celebrating its first National Space Day today, marking the one-year anniversary of the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission.
The country’s space sector has undergone a remarkable journey, from carrying its first rocket parts in cycles to the last phase preparations of Gaganyaan, the country’s first manned space mission.
India embarked on its space journey in 1969, establishing its space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Highlighting the rich legacies of India and the UAE in space exploration, India has garnered global recognition through its successful space projects. Similarly, the UAE has captured the world’s attention with ambitious initiatives like the Emirates Mars Mission (Hope Probe) and the UAE Astronaut Programme.
Some of the major space-related interactions between India and the UAE include the launch of Nayif-1, the UAE’s first nanosatellite, with the assistance of ISRO in 2017. It was among 104 satellites launched from India. The Hope Probe, the UAE’s succ
essful Mars mission, was also supported by ISRO.
India’s satellite navigation system, NavIC, has garnered interest from various sectors, including transportation and logistics.
There have been numerous significant collaborations between these two nations. Main areas of cooperation include satellite technology, space science and research, joint efforts in satellite design and manufacturing, and navigation.
In 2023, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Piyush Goyal, India’s then-Minister of Commerce and Industry, signed an agreement to further develop collaboration in the space sector between the two nations.
This agreement enhanced cooperation in the commercial development, launch, and use of small satellites for communication and Earth observation, as well as space exploration.
Collaborating in space exploration offers various advantages to both countries. It allows for the sharing of resources, expertise, and fosters knowledge exchange between India and the UA
E.
Source: Emirates News Agency