Bangalore: US President George W Bush today urged space scientists from India and the United States to identify new areas of cooperation in the civil space programme between the two countries and inspire the next generation to explore the universe.

"This conference gives participants an opportunity to identify new opportunities for civil space cooperation to answer scientific questions, improve the quality of life for others, and inspire the next generation to explore our universe," Bush said in a message to the five-day Indo-US conference on space science, applications and commerce which began in Bangalore.

He said both India and the US share a history of more than four decades of cooperation in space.

"Our risk-takers and visionaries have expanded human knowledge, revolutionised understanding of the universe, and produced technological advances that have benefited all of humanity," Bush said.

Lauding the efforts of scientists at the conference, he said, "your efforts strengthen the bilateral relationship between the US and India and reflect our common spirit of discovery and innovation".