NID, ISRO to collaborate for human spaceflight

The National Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmedabad, India, and the Human Spaceflight Centre (HSFC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Friday for the design of systems and products for the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme. NID Director Praveen Narayan and HSFC Director Dr. R. Umamaheshwaran signed the MOU in the presence of officials from both institutions. Sources close to the development said the collaboration would cover fields ranging from spacesuits to user consoles. "So far, only a few countries like Russia and the United States have advanced in space design as a discipline," said an official with knowledge of the development. "The opportunity will create a new field for practitioners and students to explore. designated members from the NID community will be part of the larger HSFC team to assist in different aspects, including ease of use in a zero-gravity environment and ergonomics."