US-India to collaborate on Mars exploration

WASHINGTON: The United States and India, fresh from sending their own respective spacecraft into Mars´ orbit earlier this month, on Tuesday agreed to cooperate on future exploration of the Red Planet.

Two deals were signed during a meeting in Toronto, Canada, between NASA administrator Charles Bolden and Chairman K. Radhakrishnan of the Indian Space Research Organization.

One agreement would "establish a pathway for future joint missions to explore Mars," while the second allows for a collaboration on an Earth-observing satellite.

"The signing of these two documents reflects the strong commitment NASA and ISRO have to advancing science and improving life on Earth," Bolden said in a statement."This partnership will yield tangible benefits to both our countries and the world."

The partnership makes way for the creation of a "joint Mars Working Group (that) will seek to identify and implement scientific, programmatic and technological goals that NASA and ISRO have in common regarding Mars exploration," the US space agency said.