India France Deepen Space Ties in Human Spaceflight, Startups

India and France expand space cooperation across human spaceflight, startups, microgravity research and emerging applications, while strengthening collaboration on Gaganyaan and the joint TRISHNA satellite mission.

India and France are expanding their longstanding space partnership into new areas, including human spaceflight, startup collaboration and emerging space applications. The development follows a meeting between Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh and French Minister for Higher Education, Research and Space Philippe Baptiste in New Delhi.

The discussions focus on building a broader space ecosystem involving government institutions, research organisations, industries and startups from both countries. Singh highlights the growth of India’s private space sector, noting that more than 400 Indian space startups are now working across areas such as rocket development, satellite manufacturing and space applications.

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Human spaceflight emerges as a key area for deeper cooperation. France has supported India’s Gaganyaan programme through the provision of consumables and training for flight surgeons. The two sides are also discussing microgravity research and parabolic flights as part of their broader collaboration in human spaceflight.

The partnership also includes the TRISHNA joint satellite mission, which is being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and France’s space agency CNES. Singh says the mission represents another important area of cooperation, while French officials express interest in expanding collaboration in human spaceflight, astronaut health and microgravity research.

India and France have maintained space cooperation for more than six decades, beginning with sounding rocket experiments and later expanding into satellite missions and launch-vehicle technologies. The partnership has included joint missions such as Megha-Tropiques and SARAL, along with continuing cooperation on TRISHNA.

The two countries are also seeking greater participation from private companies and research institutions. Singh calls for wider government-industry and startup collaboration, which could create additional opportunities for companies from both countries to participate in emerging space technologies and applications.

The cooperation gains further significance as 2026 is being observed as the India-France Year of Innovation, providing a broader framework for collaboration in science, technology and other emerging fields.

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The latest discussions therefore add human spaceflight, microgravity research and startup partnerships to the existing India-France space cooperation framework, while both countries continue to develop joint missions and explore new opportunities across the space ecosystem.