French space agency to provide cameras to TeamIndus

French Space Agency CNES will provide cameras to TeamIndus, the only Indian team competing for the USD 30-million Google Lunar XPRIZE.
France is the global leader in the micro-camera technology that will equip sensors designed to aid TeamIndus' rover's progress by detecting ground obstacles in its path.
The agreement to provide cameras developed by CENS was signed between Rahul Narayan, CEO of leading Indian start-up, Axiom Research Labs, which has put forward TeamIndus.
It is a global competition for engineers and entrepreneurs to develop low-cost methods of robotic space exploration.
TeamIndus plans to design an all-terrain rover by end-2017 for this lunar mission.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and CENS also concluded a partnership in satellite launch technology.

To win, a privately funded team must successfully place a robot on the Moon that explores at least 500 metres and transmits high-definition video and images back to Earth.
Jean-Marc Ayrault, French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, who is on a four-day visit to India to strengthen bilateral ties, was also present during the signing of agreement.
ISRO chairman A S Kirankumar and Gall also concluded a partnership between ISRO and CNES respectively in satellite launch technology.
On the occasion, Kumar gave the French delegation a guided tour of ISTRAC (ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network).

It is from this latest generation ISRO control centre that Indian space missions are monitored, including the two Indo-French satellites currently in orbit for collecting data to track climate change.