New Delhi: NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and Space Machines Company have inked a Dedicated Launch Service Agreement, to strengthen the collaboration between India and Australia. The agreement, which was announced at the India Space Congress 2024 in Delhi, sets the stage for the 2026 launch of the second Optimus spacecraft by Space Machines Company.
This initiative, known as Space MAITRI (Mission for Australia-India’s Technology, Research and Innovation), is a significant advancement in the strategic partnership between the two countries in the sector of space. Launched on ISRO’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), the 450kg Optimus spacecraft is the largest spacecraft to date to be designed and built in Australia. The Space MAITRI project attempts to strengthen relationships between governmental, institutional, and commercial space organisations in both nations.
It focuses on debris management and sustainability, which aligns with both countries’ core values and goals of promoting responsible space operations and reducing the growing threat of space debris.
