The Union Cabinet on Wednesday (31 July) approved setting up of an ISRO Technical Liaison Unit (ITLU) at Moscow in view of the necessary collaborations required for the 2022 Gaganyaan mission.

“ISRO’s Gaganyaan programme requires development of some of the key technologies and establishment of specialised facilities, which are essential to support life in space. Keeping in view the 15th August, 2022 timeline for realisation of the Gaganyaan human space programme, it is prudent to avail technical cooperation from international space agencies, who have already demonstrated their technical capabilities in specific areas,” the press release said.

Similar liaison units are currently located in Washington and Paris. The new unit will help in collaborations with Russia along with other countries in the region. The ITLU Moscow office would be managed by an ISRO official designated as ‘Counsellor (Space)‘.

An average annual expenditure of about Rs 1.50 crore per annum is anticipated to be incurred at the unit with the setting up process to be completed within six months from the approval.

The Liaison Officers provides technical information about the developments in research and technology and inputs arising from their meetings with researchers, government agencies and industries in the respective countries. They also support the ongoing bilateral programmes of cooperation in space technology and act on behalf of ISRO on the matters referred.