PM: We Invite France And The World To Be Co-Travellers In India's Next Space Frontier, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited France and the global community to collaborate in India's future space endeavors, guided by the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
• The invitation was extended during his video address at the International Space Summit held in Paris.
• India's space agency, ISRO, has successfully launched 430 payloads for 34 countries, earning global recognition for its excellence and cost-effectiveness.
• India aims to establish an indigenous space station by 2035 and send an astronaut to the Moon by 2040.
• France has been a consistent partner in India's space program since its inception at Thumba in the 1960s.

Detailed Insights:

• The International Space Summit in Paris, organized by France, aims to foster regular international dialogue on space exploration and the evolving space economy.
• India's space cooperation with France began in the early 1960s with assistance for the Rohini sounding rockets program at the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS).
• This long-standing partnership has expanded to include Earth observation, advanced technologies, joint satellite missions like Megha-Tropiques and SARAL, and engine development.
• PM Modi emphasized the need for global partnerships that prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term gains in space activities.
• He also called for transparent research and ethical sharing of scientific data for the common good of humanity.
• The philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning "the world is one family," underpins India's approach to space, advocating for benefits to reach all humanity.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: An ancient Sanskrit phrase meaning "the world is one family," promoting global unity, cooperation, and shared responsibility.
• ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation): India's primary space agency, responsible for space-based applications, research, and technology development.
• Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS): India's first rocket launching station, established in 1963 near the magnetic equator, crucial for early atmospheric and space research.
• Space Economy: The full range of activities and the use of resources that create and provide value and benefits to human beings in the course of exploring, understanding, and utilizing space.