Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) Thiruvananthapuram and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Palakkad on 19th August 2024 to enhance academic and research collaborations. This general MoU will facilitate further cooperation between the Institutes in student exchange, joint supervision of research projects/thesis, collaborative use of laboratories, academic interactions under NEP framework etc. MoU document was signed by Dr. S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director IIST and Prof. A. Seshadri Sekhar, Director, IIT Palakkad. Focal points/ coordinators identified from Institute side for further interactions are Dr. V S Sooraj, Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIST and Dr. Dinesh Setti, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Palakkad.

Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) Thiruvananthapuram and National Institute of Technology (NIT) Calicut on 28th November 2023 to enhance academic and research collaborations. The MoU will facilitate further cooperation between the Institutes in student exchange, joint supervision of research projects/thesis, collaborative use of laboratories, academic interactions under NEP framework etc. MoU document was signed by Dr. S. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director IIST and Dr. Prasad Krishna, Director, NITC. Focal points/ coordinators identified from Institute side for further interactions are are Dr. V S Sooraj, Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIST and Prof. Jose Mathew, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NITC.

Formal MoU was signed effective from August 16, 2017, and was renewed on 19th July 2021. This collaboration is primarily focused on activities related to ExoWorlds mission. The project is awaiting for the official approval the joint efforts are mostly been restricted to discussions regarding design and optimization of the IR Payload and the science aspects of the same.

Formal MoU was signed effective from Jan 1, 2018, for a period of 5 years. Possible subject for cooperation is being identified.

Formal MoU was signed effective from May 31, 2018, for a period of 5 years. Joint work on the InspireSat4 which is fully funded by NTU has been initiated under this collaboration. Joint development of ARCADE cube sat mission is also under discussion. Joint development of IS0 carrying low cost stage 4 payload and TDP of IIST developed OBC is in progress. The fully integrated and environment tested h/w was handed over to IIST on 29/1/2020.

Formal MoU was signed on Feb 1, 2019. IIST entered into a triparty MoU and NDA with Caltech and University of Surrey for the joint development of Autonomous Assembly of Reconfigurable Space Telescope (AAReST) mission. IIST responsibility is to develop mirrorsat consisting of structures, OBC, EPS and thruster. Further, mirrorsat structure would also be designed and developed for University of Surrey. The project was suspended by Caltech and University of Surrey on Oct. 22, 2019.

Formal MoU was signed on Nov 2019. MOU was initiated based on the interest from Prof Senthil Murugan, Center of Energy Studies, IITG to collaborate with IIST in the combustion research in the year 2017.

Projects in progress: Laminar flame characteristics of syngas derived from biomasses.

A research rig was built and performed experiments in IIST. Now a a porous burner is developed and experiments are being carried out at IITG.

In the future, the research-in-progress porous burner needs to be optimized for turndown ratio and for liquid fuels. Another research is in progress is that development of a gasifier for processing rice husk and municipal wastes in collaboration with an industrial partner NTPC.

Formal MoU was signed effective from Jan 1, 2020, for a period of 5 years. IIST and University of Colorado, Boulder initiated the International Satellite Program in Research and Education) INSPIRE consortium where universities across the globe will come across to collaboratively develop student satellites. The INSPIRE partners meeting was held during 29-30 Jan., 2020 where partners from 6 countries discussed and deliberated the present and future INSPIRE missions. Joint student satellite mission proposal on design and development of InspireSat3 and is under discussion.

IIST entered into an Memorandum of Agreement for InspireSat1, where IIST developed the subsystems OBC & EPS and IIST will support with the ground station in UHF and S-band.

Formal MoU was signed by both parties, effective from Jan 8, 2020, for a period of 5 years.

Active research collaboration in the field of Earth Sciences is continuing between Niigata University and IIST. Dr. Rajesh V.J., Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Space Sciences, IIST, has visited Niigata University and performed geochemical and isotopic analyses of terrestrial analogue samples collected from various locales of southern India. The data processing and interpretation of the results are on-going. Research scholars in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences in IIST are actively involved in the data processing. These analytical data will be used to understand the geochemical processes operated on early Earth and Mars.

The project titled “LOC approaches for Separation and analysis of Exsome Derived Biomarkers for Cancer Prognostics” jointly submitted along with Dr. Anne-Marie Gue (Directrice de Recherche CNRS.LAAS-CNRS, Toulouse, France), Dr Wilfrid Boireau,( Directeur de Recherche CNRS, FEMTO-ST, Besançon, France) and Dr. Palash Kumar Basu (Dept.of Avionics, IIST) under the first call of DST-CNRS targeted Programme 2018-2019, has been approved for financial support for three years. As a part of this project, LAAS and FEMTO are working to optimize hydrodynamic and acoustic separation methods whereas IIST is working on the optimization of exosomes electrical-lysis method. The initial chip has been fabricated at LAAS clean rooms. The chip was transferred to IIST for verifying their functional performance. The testing is going on at IIST. The partners agree on the realization of a first prototype dedicated to the detection of a single protein.

Formal MoU was signed on Feb 26, 2020. The collaboration was initiated through discussions happened during the third edition of Bonjour India organised by French Embassy in India at Bangalore on 29th and 30th January 2018. The major collaborative research projects carried out/in progress are the following.

A cubesat constellation mission for multipoint measurements on mars: Completed

The project was to assess the feasibility of CubeSat technology for obtaining multipoint measurements around Mars. Due to the complex interactions between the Martian atmosphere, magnetosphere, and its surface, multipoint simultaneous measurements will pave way for understanding of the dynamics and origins of Mars’ current state in a new way. This Indo-French collaborative study focuses on using existing as well as developing CubeSat technologies from India and France for the scientific mission.

Piggy-back Launch for Deep Space Exploration-2019: Completed

This project assesses this feasibility with trajectories towards NEOs and Mars, the nearest objects of Earth. The package pykep implemented by ESA on Python, gives a first good estimation of potential optimal low-thrust trajectories with mass required for the travel. Simulations reveal this solution is possible for deep space exploration with small satellites launched on a GTO or with a dedicated launch, using electric propulsion.

Comet Sample return, mission concepts from an Indo-French team: Completed

The main objective of the proposal was to conceptualize, design and simulate a sample return mission form a comet in the year 2035 to 2045 time frame using the capabilities of Arian 6 to GSLV Mk. III launcher. Two of the most crucial and unprecedented components of the mission were obtain a cometary sample from at least 50 cm below the surface while marinating the stratigraphy and to bring the samples back to earth while maintaining cryogenic temperatures. Both the aspects were extremely challenging and being attempted for the first time.

A mission to probe upper atmosphere of Venus and its interaction with solar winds using adaptable 1 + 8 satellite formation : Proposal approved, work started from October 2021 onwards

The project proposed here is to explore Venus, one of our nearest neighboring planets. The main goal of the mission would be to design a single mother ship and eight daughter nano satellites configuration flying at three altitudes in 4S top + 1M + 4S bottom configuration and probe compositional variation in real time. The investigation can target not only the atmospheric composition but also the interaction of solar wind in the upper atmosphere of Venus. Altitudes above 150 km will be very interesting.

Formal MoU was signed effective from May 17, 2021, for a period of 5 years. The following collaborative research activities are planned

Develop a Satellite-based IoT payload for CubeSat and conduct lab-scale experiments

Develop a ground-based sensor for satellite-based IoT for remote agricultural applications.

Explore the possibilities of a PS4 mission with the boards developed in items 1 and 2 above, if permitted by ISRO. Even for a simple mission on PS4, the current level of complexity in the process is exorbitant in terms of effort and money. That needs to be revised and improved for experiments in order to utilize the PS4 platform for quick and risk-less missions.

IIST is a partner institute of the Belgo-Indian Network for Astronomy and Astrophysics (BINA). This is supported by the International Division of Department of Science and Technology (DST; Govt. of India) and the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO; Govt. of Belgium). Dr. Anandmayee Tej is the nodal point for BINA in IIST since March 2019
 

The development of EPS diagnostics for the high vacuum facility)
Investigations and lab demonstration of feasibility of laser holography based surface profilometer for potential Erosion measurement of Ceramic liner of hall thruster
 

MoU signed on 30. 06. 2022 on Design and construction of MEMS-based portable Seismocardiogram for on-board cardiac health monitoring of Astronauts, between IIST and LEOS.
 

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Trivandrum, and the Indian Institute of Space Science Technology (IIST), Trivandrum, on 30th May 2022 at the Director’s Office, SCTIMST. The signatories were Dr. Sanjay Behari (Director, SCTIMST) and Dr. Sam Dayala Dev (Director, IIST). The MoU will facilitate the exchange of students, faculty, and research, twin Programmes, creation of Centre of Excellence in specialized fields of mutual interest in science, engineering, technology, and medical and healthcare technologies.

The MOU between IIST & L&T was signed on 10th March 2022. The objective of this MOU is to set forth the broad parameters of cooperation between the Parties in the area of specific research, innovation and applied science. L&T will be engaging with IIST for PhD & M Tech programs, where in L&T engineers, who are interested, will be doing research & studies at IIST. L&T intends to work on various research and development project(s) in the Field. IIST & L&T will decide the specific areas of the research and development that will be carried out at IIST. L&T will be also engaging with IIST, to work on funded projects under the Space Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre (STIIC).

Non-disclosure Agreement signed with Danish Aerospace Company in the month of May 2022. The NDA is the first step towards signing a framework for a cooperative agreement, and possible supplementary MoUs with DAC. DAC is a Denmark-based company operating in the area of advanced medical instrumentation and other engineering fields, primarily within space applications. The company has developed respiratory equipment for spaceflight, bicycle ergometers for astronauts countermeasures, and adapted several commercial medical equipments for spaceflight. Medical and exercise equipment from DAC has been used on some of the world's leading space stations and manned space laboratories: the International Space Station, Mir, Spacelab, etc. IIST would like to sign an MoU with DAC for collaborative research in the space technology domain. DAC has shown interest to work with IIST on various research and development project(s), such as (i) Design and Development of Exhale Breath Analyzer for monitoring the Crew Health, (ii) Development of a model for predicting physiological responses under rest/exercise in deep space conditions, etc. DAC will also be engaging with IIST, to work on funded projects under the Advanced Space Research Group, IIST. For each project where services of faculty members and/or students of the Institute are intended to be availed, the terms and conditions of engagement will be set forth in a mutually agreed project-specific development agreement ("Development Agreement").

IIST signed an Mou with HSFC regarding the following ASRG projects on 20-5-22.

• Development of Mathematical Human Thermal Behavior Model for a Reference Indian Subject
• Development, Characterization, Qualification and Delivery of Space grade indigenous gas sensors for O2, CO, CH4 and NH3.
   

IIST signed an Mou with IISU regarding the following ASRG project on April 2022.

• High Performance SAR ADC with Auto Calibration and Correction for Sensor Closed Loop Applications
   

IIST signed an Mou with VSSC regarding the following ASRG projects on 14-12-22.

• Nano structured high performance anode materials for high power, higher safety and fast charging Li-ion battery.
• High-Q dielectric thin films with tunablity in Microwave frequencies for Space applications.
• Development of Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG) thin films for space applications and Dielectric Test setup for ceramics at high Electric field and temperatures.
• Development of Magneto Dielectric Substrate/ Metamaterial based L- band Antenna
• Implicit large Eddy Simulation of Jets.
• Improved Silicon-graphene based composite as anode materials for lithium battery cells and exploring the possibility of other battery technologies
• Graphene nano platelets incorporated zinc rich epoxy coating for corrosion protection of steel hardware
• Design of Multi-Channel Temperature Monitoring ASIC
   

IIST signed an Mou with LPSC regarding the following ASRG projects on 21-07-22.

• Near and field diagnostics NET
• Life time predication of HET liner using simulations
• Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Direct Contact Condensation of GCO2/ steam in LN2
• Performance and Instability Analysis of Methane- Oxygen Combustion using shear coaxial injectoron
• Three-dimensional DSMC (Direct simulation monte- carIo)simuIation for satellite thrusters
• Cold Flow Characterization of a Dual Throat Nozzle (DTN) based Tri-Propellant Engine Propulsion System.

IIST signed an Mou with SAC regarding the following ASRG projects on 25-11-22.

• Machine learning driven Augmented Reality based Campus walkthrough.
• Interference analysis and co-existence studies between GSO and NGSO satellite systems