Bangalore: India and China are likely to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on areas of co-operation in the space sector, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) G Madhavan Nair indicated today (Jan 10, 2004).

He told reporters after releasing a book that an Indo-Chinese joint space team recently discussed various possibilities of co-operation. "We will work out something with the Chinese as well," Nair said.

Asked if it was co-operation in joint satellite development, he replied in the negative. "We are identifying areas of co-operation."

Normally, when India agrees on mutual co-operation in space sector with another country, it signs an MoU with that nation, he noted.

Meanwhile, queried if India would undertake a manned flight, Nair said, "In the backdrop of Chinese manned mission, this requirement (manned mission) has come at a national level."

ISRO had earlier maintained that there are no plans to have a manned flight as the scientific community is not fully convinced about its need. However, Defence Minister George Fernandes recently, speaking at a function in Bangalore, strongly favoured a manned mission.

Nair today said, "We are in the process of trying to evaluate the pros and cons of manned flight. In fact, there are two opinions about it. We have got finest instruments in space which is doing much more than what a man can do in space. So, whether such a (manned) mission itself is needed, is being debated. But if a need arises...what needs to be done...then we will look at it."