European Space Agency proposes to collaborate with ISRO for space mission after historic 104 satellites launch

After ISRO's record-breaking launch of more than 100 satellites at one go, the European Space Agency (ESA) has proposed to join hands with the Indian space agency. According to European Space Agency’s Senior Scientific Advisor Mark McCaughrean, the ESA is "looking forward" to a renewed collaboration in space missions.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has reached new heights ever since it created history and broke world record by launching no less than 104 satellites under a single mission recently. The world watched when history was being created at the Satish Dhawan spaceport in Hyderabad’s Sriharikota. 

What matters was the precision in launching satellites and the low cost mission, he said.

"ESA plans further collaboration with ISRO in various space missions. Had an informal discussion with former ISRO chairman UR Rao at Bangalore. The current ISRO chairman, AS Kiran Kumar was in a meeting in Delhi that day. Earlier, ESA had collaborated with ISRO on Chandrayaan-1 mission to Moon," McCaughrean added.

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The ESA has entered into collaboration with 22 countries including India, China, Japan, Russia and the US in space missions. 

ESA’s 15 space missions are already under pipeline. In 2018, the ESA will send Bepe Colombo to Mercury and in 2022, Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) will be sent to Jupiter.

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The Mercury mission is a joint venture of the ESA and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The gravity of the Sun will be a big challenge while attempting to put the spacecraft into Mercury’s orbit.

The JUICE spacecraft will observe the planet Jupiter for 3 years and will also study 3 of its largest satellites - Ganymede, Callisto and Europa. 

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"The ice crust is much deeper and there may be forms of life in these moons," said McCaughrean.