Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05CHENNAI2446
2005-10-14 09:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Chennai
Cable title:  

ISRO FRUSTRATED BY SLOW PACE OF SPACE COOPERATION

Tags:  ETTC TSPA PREL IN 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS CHENNAI 002446 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC TSPA PREL IN
SUBJECT: ISRO FRUSTRATED BY SLOW PACE OF SPACE COOPERATION

REF: A) New Delhi 5758 B) State 181404

UNCLAS CHENNAI 002446

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC TSPA PREL IN
SUBJECT: ISRO FRUSTRATED BY SLOW PACE OF SPACE COOPERATION

REF: A) New Delhi 5758 B) State 181404


1. (SBU) Summary. The Indian Space Research Organization
(ISRO) reiterated its frustration with the lack of a
framework for cooperation on space exploration and research
with the U.S. when high level ISRO officials met with us on
October 6. The officials called India's upcoming
Chandrayaan-1 moon mission a "litmus test" for Indo-U.S.
space collaboration, and expressed their perception that "a
certain group in the U.S." opposes cooperation. These
sentiments echo what other USG officials have heard from
ISRO representatives in the past several months, especially
regarding lack of resolution about the Chandrayaan TAA. End
summary.


2. (SBU) On October 6 during his initial visit to
Bangalore, new Chennai Principal Officer met at ISRO
headquarters with Dr. Rajeev Lochan, Assistant Scientific
Secretary, and Mr. Jacob Ninan, Director of International

SIPDIS
Cooperation. The ISRO officials spent most of the hour-long
meeting politely but very firmly renewing their complaints
about the perceived slow pace of Indo-U.S. space
collaboration and the lack of a proper framework or
mechanism for cooperation (see ref A). They said that from
their perspective Prime Minister Singh's July visit to
Washington has yet to show results at the working level, and
they went so far as to question whether "a certain group
(unnamed) in the U.S." actually opposes cooperation.



3. (SBU) Lochan and Ninan specifically cited the Indian's
upcoming Chandrayaan-1 moon mission as a prime opportunity
for cooperation, and they mentioned the proposal to place on
board an instrument developed by Johns Hopkins University.
They said ISRO was still waiting for a U.S. response to ISRO-
proposed changes to the Technical Assistance Agreement.
Lochan called the Chandrayaan-1 opportunity a "litmus test"
for cooperation, saying that if it cannot be resolved "there
is no future for cooperation."


4. (SBU) The ISRO officials also complained about what they
view as the slow and circuitous route for communications on
space issues. They said the process of sending messages
from the Department of State to Embassy New Delhi to be
passed to the MEA and ultimately to ISRO sometimes took
weeks. They claimed that on the Indian side ISRO is
empowered to deal directly with foreign entities and need
only keep the MEA and Prime Minister's office informed. The
officials also contrasted their frustrating dealings with
the U.S. with the "much more responsive," less bureaucratic
European Space Agency. They said earlier, similar problems
with the Europeans were sorted out in a day-long meeting.


5. (SBU) Comment: Disconnect within ISRO? Although ISRO's
frustration is real, the officials may be overstating their
own supposedly streamlined communications and their
perceived lack of responsiveness from the U.S. side, as well
as airing often-heard grievances about the TAA. During the
October 6 meeting Dr. Jacob mentioned the lack of a
Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) for satellite
launches. Dr. Ninan quickly corrected his colleague,
pointing out that a new draft had been received (likely the
one transmitted in ref b). The expected October 17 signing
of the "Science and Technology Umbrella Agreement" and the
Nov. 30-Dec. 1 High Technology Cooperation Group meeting
present immediate opportunities to try to resolve pending
disputes on the Chandrayaan TAAS and, more importantly, to
promote other opportunities for space collaboration with
India. End comment.


6. (U) This message was coordinated with Embassy New Delhi.

HOPPER