ARIES and BEL Sign MoU to Advance Space Situational Awareness Technologies

ARIES and BEL have inked an MoU to develop Space Situational Awareness technologies, enhancing space object tracking to ensure satellite safety. This partnership aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make-in-India initiatives, focusing on collision prevention and space infrastructure security.

The Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) have officially entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to innovate Space Situational Awareness (SSA) technologies. This strategic agreement, facilitated by the Ministry of Defence, aims to enhance the monitoring of space objects, including near-Earth entities and man-made satellites, thereby ensuring the safety and functionality of these vital assets.

The MoU was signed at BEL's Ghaziabad Unit, taking India a step closer to advanced space surveillance capabilities in line with the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and 'Make-in-India' campaigns. The partnership will focus on the prediction and prevention of potential collisions between space objects, contributing significantly to the security of space infrastructure.

Central to this initiative is the use of ARIES's cutting-edge telescopic equipment, like the 4m International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT), through which comprehensive data will be leveraged. The collaboration will also explore the development of advanced image processing and data analytics software. Workshops and training programs will be organized to enhance skills in SSA, along with the creation of new scientific instruments and laboratories. ARIES's expertise in space weather will further enrich this joint effort.

The MoU was formally signed by Prof. Dipankar Banerjee, Director of ARIES, and Rashmi Kathuria, GM (SCCS) & Unit Head at BEL, and witnessed by eminent officials from both organizations, including Dr Brijesh Kumar, Dr TS Kumar, and Dr S. Krishna Prasad from ARIES, as well as senior BEL officers Bhanu Prakash Srivastava, Director (OU), Anoop Kumar Rai, CS (CRL-GAD), and Puneet Jain, AGM (Marketing).

(With inputs from agencies.)