NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday invited France and other nations to be a “co-traveller” in the next phase of the country’s space research. He was virtually addressing the International Space Summit in Paris.“We invite France and other nations to be our co-traveller in next phase of space research,” he said, adding that “France has been trusted partner in India’s space programme since 1960s”.Speaking about Isro’s success, he said, “Chandrayaan-3 made India the first nation to land near the lunar South Pole. Aditya L-1 is unlocking the secrets of the Sun. Last year, an Indian visited the International Space Station. Looking ahead, we aim to establish an Indian space station by 2035 and send an Indian to the moon by 2040. In all these efforts, our guiding principles have been clear. Their benefits must reach all humanity.”“Alongside ISRO, India’s private space sector is also surging in a big way. The energy of enterprise is joining the excellence of ISRO. France has been a trusted partner since the Indian space program began in the 1960s. Today, our cooperation spans Earth observation and advanced technologies, uniting scientific excellence with human purpose. We invite France and the world to be co-travellers in India’s next space frontier. Let the Space Summit in Paris send a clear message that we will explore together, innovate together and protect space together for all humanity and for generations to come. I convey my best wishes to all the participants,” he added.
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Describing India’s space philosophy, he said, “India’s approach is rooted in ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. That is one Earth, one family, one future. This spirit must now travel beyond Earth. We support a safe, secure, peaceful, and sustainable space domain anchored in international law, dialogue, and multilateral cooperation. Scientific data must serve the common good with openness and integrity. India’s space journey reflects this philosophy.“The first International Space Summit in Paris has brought together governments, space agencies, companies and scientists to strengthen international cooperation and make space activities a long-term driver of societal development. The summit featured 51 announcements worth around €20 billion, highlighting the sector’s economic and scientific momentum while stressing the need to protect orbital and frequency resources and share scientific data.