Chennai, June 6 (IANS): Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Aryabhatta Research Institute (ARIES) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Astrophysics.

Space objects' orbital tracking, analysis and space weather studies are important aspects in Space Situational Awareness and Management to safeguard Indian space assets from critical conjunction threats like space debris.

Future endeavours in space exploration depends on research and development (R&D) in astrophysics, solar sciences, and space environment.

Self-reliance in these areas is key to the progress of Indian space arena.

This MoU will pave the way for future collaborations between ISRO and ARIES in establishing optical telescope observational facilities for space object tracking, R&D studies in space weather, astrophysics, and Near Earth Object (NEO).

The MoU was signed by R. Umamaheswaran, Scientific Secretary, ISRO and Prof (Dr) Dipankar Banerjee, Director, ARIES.