India France agreement on Gaganyan Mission

In News: Space agencies of India and France on 15/04/2021 signed an agreement for cooperation for the former’s first human space mission, Gaganyaan, a move that will enable Indian flight physicians to train at French facilities.

About India France agreement on Gaganyan Mission

• The first space agreement between France and India dates back to 1964. 
• The recent agreement was announced during French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian’s visit to the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) headquarters in Bengaluru.
• Existing partnerships between the two nations cover almost all areas of space activity. 

Significance of Agreement

• Under this agreement, France will be contributing to India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.
• ISRO has asked the French space agency CNES to help prepare for Gaganyaan missions and to serve as its single European contact in this domain.
• French space agency CNES under the agreement, equipment developed by it, tested and still operating aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will be made available to Indian crews.
• The CNES will also be supplying fireproof carry bags made in France to shield equipment from shocks and radiation.
• Under the terms of the agreement, CNES will train India’s flight physicians and CAPCOM mission control teams in France at the CADMOS centre for the development of microgravity applications and space operations at CNES in Toulouse and at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany.