India, US scientists to analyse Mars data

Scientists of Indian and American space agencies will meet in Bengaluru from February 22 to 25, discussing and analyzing findings of their respective satellites orbiting the Mars as well as exploring cooperation for future missions to the Red Planet.  

Coinciding the meeting of the Mars Working Group set up jointly by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of America and the Indian Space Research Organization in Bengaluru, US astronaut Sunita Williams may visit New Delhi between February 25 and 26 for engagements with students and space policy thinkers.

Besides, the Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Director, Charles Elachi, is also currently on a visit to New Delhi. The Nasa JPL is working with the ISRO to jointly develop a synthetic aperture radar satellite that will allow scientists to study natural disasters and global environmental changes.

The third meeting of the Nasa-ISRO Mars Working Group in Bengaluru will focus on observations and science analysis made by the Mars missions of the two agencies – including Mars Orbiter Mission of India and MAVEN of the US, which arrived at the orbits of the Red Planet within days of each other in September 2014.

The Nasa Deputy Administrator Dava Newman will travel to the ISRO to open the event and hold discussions with his counterparts.

 The NASA Planetary Science Division Director, James Green, will lead the US delegation in technical discussions related to Mars findings and collaboration with the ISRO team, the American Embassy in New Delhi stated in a press release issued on Wednesday. The US and India, according to the press release, will also hold Space Security Dialogue on February 24 in New Delhi, discussing the long-term sustainability and security of the outer space environment. The US government's Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance Frank Rose would lead the US delegation.Amandeep Singh, Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security Affairs) in the Ministry of External Affairs, is likely to lead the delegation from India.