As the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) ready to set up for a series of uncrewed tests and flights related to Gaganyaan mission, which is India’s First human spaceflight mission. To significant the progress made with the setup of temporary ground station tracking facilities on Australia’s Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The Indian team has effectively conducted a site survey, confirming that the location fulfills the all operational requirements. In the next stage of this project, ISRO are working closely with an Australian Space agency to establish the facilities that will cater to the mission’s tracking and communication needs. ISRO has strategically identified the Cocos Islands as a key site for its tracking station, viewing the Gaganyaan mission as a point of national pride and motivation. The creation of this tracking station is part of a wider government-to-government agreement, underscoring the collaborative aspect of this project. The choice of the Cocos Islands is especially strategic, aligning perfectly with the expected trajectory of the Gaganyaan flights, making it ideal for effectively tracking telemetry and ensuring spacecraft control throughout its journey, capturing and monitoring all important data accurately.
The Australian Space Agency (ASA) has reaffirmed its commitment to assist India should any unexpected challenges emerge during the Gaganyaan mission. In addition to this support, the ASA is actively looking for collaboration opportunities with India, particularly in scientific and industrial areas related to the mission. Australia has a wealth of expertise in applied space medicine and life sciences, which could be essential for the success of human spaceflight initiatives. This expertise is based on Australia’s extensive experience in remote medicine and its research efforts in Antarctica, where conditions are akin to those found in space. By harnessing this knowledge, both nations can improve the safety and effectiveness of the Gaganyaan mission, paving the way for future collaborations in space exploration. As the goals for robotic exploration can incorporate Australia’s strengths in robotics, other fields may include optical communication. Furthermore, Australia has been fostering partnerships between its companies and Indian firms, with three projects advancing to significant stages. These initiatives include the AU$5.8 million LatConnect60 satellite aimed at monitoring carbon emissions, an AU$8.5 million collaboration between Space Machines Company and Bengaluru’s Digantara for the Space MAITRI mission, which focuses on on-orbit transport and debris management, and a AU$3.7 million project by Skykraft to develop a new Position, Navigation, and Timing system for satellite networks. It is expected that at least two of these satellites will be launched from India as part of the agreement. There will be a specific SSLV launch for Space Machines with NSIL, and the LatConnect 60 satellite will be launched with Skyroot, a promising startup in India’s launch sector. Last year during the G20 celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the G20 climate satellite, and Australia is looking into ways to provide a payload for that satellite through different earth observation technologies. He pointed out that the commercial space sectors in India and Australia share many similarities, with numerous small to medium enterprises and startups focused on growth.
