India and Mauritius to Jointly Build and Launch Small Satellite

January 6, 2024

India has signed an agreement with Mauritius to jointly develop a small satellite, which will be launched by ISRO in early 2024. The cooperation will be between ISRO and Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC).

Satellite Development and Launch Timeline

Realization of the satellite through participation of Indian industries is expected within 15 months. The total estimated project cost is Rs 20 crores borne by India.

Benefits to India

The joint satellite project will ensure continued Mauritian government support for ISRO’s critical ground tracking station located in the island country. This station aids India’s launch missions.

Additionally, MRIC agreeing to provide their ground infrastructure for ISRO’s future small satellite projects signals widened scope of bilateral space collaboration.

Background on Partnership

India set up the Mauritius ground tracking station back in 1986 to assist its satellite and launcher missions. The current cooperation is guided by a 2009 country-level agreement on space.

About MRIC

The Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) constitutes the apex advisory body on matters related to research, innovation and development in the country.

Legally constituted in 2019 via the MRIC Act, the council is mandated to steer the research ecosystem, spur innovation and boost industry-academic links.

The Act outlines objectives like coordinating need-driven research, fostering entrepreneurship culture, aligning advanced technologies to industry requirements and promoting commercialisation of R&D outputs.

By synergizing players and priorities, MRIC aims to catalyze innovation-led growth to improve economic and social welfare. collaborations like the joint satellite with ISRO aid building technological capacities.

So through its charter and activities, the council strives to bolster Mauritius’ research environment and steering it towards national developmental priorities for boosting prosperity.

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