Bangalore: India plans to launch a Brazilian micro satellite for atmospheric studies and set up a ground station in Brazil for receiving remote sensing data from its remote sensing satellite RESOURCESAT-1, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said today (Jan 27, 2004).

ISRO said it also would conduct joint research in space atmospheric sciences and exchange of proposals for remote sensing applications with the Brazilian space agency AEB.

A framework agreement for cooperation in the field of outer space was signed by India and Brazil on Sunday (Jan 25, 2004) by External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and Brazilian External Relations Minister Celeo Amorim.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, ISRO said in a statement.

Besides the framework agreement, an agreement on the programme of cooperation between the two space agencies was also signed by ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair and AEB president Luiz Bevilaequa.

ISRO and AEB had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in March 2002 to provide an umbrella for cooperation between the two countries in the area of space. Several discussions have been held for identifying areas of mutual interest.

The new framework agreement is expected to strengthen the ties already established under the MoU and demonstrate the support of both governments, ISRO said.