According to a news release by the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mauritian agency to design, assemble, integrate, test, launch and operate an Earth Observation satellite for the East African country. The MoU outlines the specifics of the partnership over 15 months, including the procedures and the respective roles and obligations of each participating entity.
Upon its completion, all related in-orbit operations will be jointly carried out by ISRO and MRIC utilising the MRIC’s ground station. MRIC engineers will be trained at ISRO’s facilities in India in collaboration with ISRO engineers to develop the satellite platform, associated systems, and the primary payload. These MRIC engineers will also actively engage in milestone reviews and participate in assembly, integration, and testing (AIT) activities to enhance hands-on experience. In addition, ISRO and MRIC will jointly work towards registering the EO satellite as a recognised space object in the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) space object registry, and they will also take the necessary steps to ensure the registration of the satellite’s frequencies with the International Telecommunication Union.Â
Furthermore, MRIC conducted a comprehensive survey to assess the requirements for space data within governmental research institutions in Mauritius. The findings indicated that the optimal choice for the forthcoming Mauritian satellite’s primary payload is a multispectral imager. This specialised camera can capture various frequency bands of light and, when deciphered using appropriate software, can produce valuable data for monitoring both land and sea surfaces, ensuring stakeholders can make informed decisions and improve scientific research in the country.
