Space Program Agreement Between India and Israel

The head of Israel's space research program, Colonel Avi Hareven, and the head of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Dr. K. Kasturirangan, signed an agreement on space cooperation between the two countries.

The Indian space program is one of the most advanced in the world, with a budget of about half a billion dollars. By comparison, Israel's budget for space programs is $70 million.

Plans are being made to develop an Indian communications satellite with a telescope from the Israeli El-Op company. This satellite will orbit the earth at 36,000 kilometers after it is launched in two years. The hope is that the new agreement will encourage more cooperation in science and space programs in the future.

Source: Barzilai, Amnon. "Israel, India sign space program cooperation agreement." Haaretz, (November 11, 2002)