The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed a Statement of Intent on human space exploration with the European Space Agency (ESA) in May 2025. This agreement primarily focuses on cooperation in low Earth orbit (LEO), with future plans to expand into lunar exploration. Under this agreement, ISRO and ESA will begin working on the interoperability of rendezvous and docking systems to enable collaboration between their respective spacecraft in LEO. In addition, the two agencies plan to cooperate on astronaut training, analogue missions conducted in ground-based simulation environments, and parabolic flight activities.
Prerequisites:
• Institutional & political interest and support for human spaceflight
• Partnerships with established agencies
• Existence of technological capabilities and infrastructure in national ecosystem (space agency, industry or academia) to conduct R&D for space exploration technologies.
• Lead agency & budget
• Procurement pathway
• Partner support as needed
Cost:
• Ballpark: USD 1M–100M (depending on scope: training, experiment integration, astronaut seat access)
• Includes: partnership agreements and diplomatic engagement, astronaut training and exchanges, experiment development for ISS or other platforms, integration and safety certification, development of ground support and mission operations capacity, national awareness and outreach activities
Timeframe:
• Overall: 24–96 mo
• Phase: scoping & partnership agreements (6–12 mo), astronaut/crew training or experiment preparation (12–36 mo), mission participation (6–12 mo), data analysis & follow-up outreach (12–24 mo)
Pros:
• Accelerates Capability Development - Access to proven expertise and training systems helps build national skills more effectively.
• Reduces Cost and Technical Burden - Shared infrastructure and training eases financial and technical demands.
• Enhances International Visibility - Participation in human spaceflight raises global recognition.
Considerations:
• Limits National Autonomy - Dependence on partners can restrict planning freedom and slow independent development.
• Requires Complex Agreements - Building formal partnerships often involves legal, diplomatic, and administrative hurdles.