C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001136

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2015
TAGS: PREL ETTC TSPA CVIS TSPL FR TH IN NSSP
SUBJECT: ISRO CHAIRMAN: HELP US MAINTAIN MOMENTUM IN SPACE
COOPERATION


Classified By: Ambassador David C. Mulford, for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) In a February 10 meeting with the Ambassador and
staff aide, Dr. Madhavan Nair, Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO) Chairman was generally upbeat about the
NSSP framework of growing US-India cooperation on space
technology but was visibly frustrated at what he perceives
are several significant obstacles slowing progress. Dr. Nair
asked the Ambassador for assistance with:
- the alleged 8 month delay for a one week briefing from
Boeing on a transponder bus deal that was the subject of a
carefully negotiated State Department license;
- the lack of an umbrella agreement for space technology
cooperation or a working group between NASA and ISRO;
- the closing window of opportunity for a US payload to go
on the Chandrayaan mission and promoting the idea of ISRO as
a launch provider for USG payloads;
- ISRO's end-use licensing checks; and
- visa processing delays for ISRO personnel.
Despite these concerns, Dr. Nair remains "positive" about the
"good rapport" between the US-India on space technology
collaboration. Dr. Nair was joined by three other ISRO
officials: Dr. Jacob Ninan, Director of International
Cooperation. Dr. PS Goyal, Director of the ISRO Satellite
Centre, and Dr. S. Sundararamaiah, Scientific Secretary. End
Summary.


2. (C) The Ambassador, describing the NSSP as a "phased
process," assured Dr. Nair that he realized that while those
at the policy levels of both governments want to move forward
together, there is "tension and irritation" at the working
levels. The Ambassador committed to "understand and fix"
irritants that threaten to stall NSSP implementation. Dr.
Nair said NSSP was "a good move" but said progress since the
agreement was signed was "not at the same speed" as expected.
The Ambassador asked Dr. Nair about ISRO's current top
priorities and where we could help.

The ISRO Wish List

--------------


3. (SBU) First, Dr. Goyal complained that since the
Bangalore Space Conference 8 months ago when Boeing announced
the deal, the company has been unable or unwilling to provide
a 1-week briefing required to move to the next stage of
company-to-company cooperation. He asked the Ambassador to
help on the issue by raising it with either the USG, which he
said Boeing blamed for the delay, or Boeing directly.


4. (U) Second, Dr. Nair noted the absence of an umbrella
agreement between ISRO and NASA to focus on both "national
legislation issues and international committments," and
suggested a working group to tackle obstacles to better
coordination. Dr. Nair remarked that such umbrella
agreements already exist between India and Russia and have
been very useful to navigate each others' bureaucracies
efficiently.


5. (U) Third, according to Dr. Nair the window for the USG
to put a payload on the Chandrayaan lunar mission was closing
quickly. Dr. Goyal confirmed that the scheduled launch date
was end of 2007, and that any payload -- whether the Mini SAS
or MQ -- would take two years to integrate into the program.
Calling them "thrust areas", Dr. Nair lamented that time may
run out before the governments could seize this significant
opportunity to collaborate in the spirit of NSSP. Dr. Nair
also pitched the USG to use ISRO as a launch provider, and
also to begin exploring joint ventures, promising
"cost-effective payloads" if the USG would coordinate with
India.


6. (U) Fourth, the ISRO Chairman expressed frustration at
having to deal with several USG agencies to get the required
licenses for certain equipment, and asked if it were possible
for one agency to handle it. The Ambassador said this was
unlikely to change, but he would convey the sentiment.


7. (U) Finally, Dr. Nair raised the issue of the difficulty
in getting visas on short notice for ISRO officials.
"Science, like business, cools down fast if not attended to,"
he remarked and appreciated any fast track method for getting
his scientists appointments and visa clearances as fast as
possible.


8. (C) When asked about ISRO's role in the tsunami
aftermath, Dr. Nair agreed his organization had played an
important role by providing damage assessments within 1-2
days of India's coast, Sri Lanka and other affected
neighbors. ISRO also provided emergency communications with
Andaman and Nicobar which no other agency could provide, and
also facilitated remote medical consultations to the affected
areas.


9. (C) Comment: While ISRO Chairman Nair remains upbeat,
the climate at ISRO towards NSSP is cooling due to their
perception of unmet NSSP expectations and continuing
obstacles to space technology cooperation. We remind the
Indians that NSSP is a phased process, but we will have to
reach out and work hard to resolve the current irritants
listed here to get ISRO back on the NSSP bandwagon. End
Comment.
MULFORD