ROSA joins the International Space Exploration Coordination Group

Romanian Space Agency (ROSA) has been unanimously accepted to join the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG). Now this elite group has 17 space agencies, starting with US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which has the greatest experience, European Space Agency (ESA) and space agencies of Japan, Russia, North Korea and Canada.

Over the years, the Romanian Space Agency (ROSA) has constantly worked towards integrating Romania among the space exploration nations. Important milestones along this road happened in January 2014, when the Romanian delegation, comprising of the then Minister-Delegate for Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technological Development, Mr. Mihnea Costoiu and the President of the Romanian Space Agency (ROSA), Dr. Phys. Marius-Ioan Piso, together with other distinguished members, participated at the high-level meetings at the International Space Exploration Forum, organised by NASA and at the „Heads of Space Agencies Summit”, organised by the International Academy of Astronautics. On these occasions, the White House announced its intention to extend funding for the International Space Station at least until 2025. Based on this decision, Romania was accepted as ISS participant at the ESA Ministerial Council in 2014, which took place in Luxembourg.

Starting with the year 2010, the Romanian Space Agency (ROSA) has attended the ISECG meetings as an observer. On 1 May 2019, ROSA received the official letter announcing it has unanimously been accepted by the 16 member space agencies to join the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG).

“ROSA’s acceptance as the 17th member of ISECG comes as recognition of the increasing role our country plays in space exploration, thanks also to the last decade developments in capacity and industrial and research infrastructure, a process that has been accelerated as a result of the ESA Member State status. At the same time, this is a step forward towards consolidating and expanding our strategic partnerships in space exploration”, declared Dr. Phys. Marius-Ioan Piso.

International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) was created in 2007 as a voluntary, non-binding forum where participating space agencies exchange information about their space exploration plans, activities and interests with the goal of strengthening both individual agency exploration programmes and the collective effort.

ISECG was established in response to "The Global Exploration Strategy: The Framework for Coordination," developed by 14 space agencies and released in May 2007. This GES Framework Document articulated a shared vision of peaceful, coordinated human and robotic space exploration focused on Solar System destinations where humans may one day live and work.

The following space agencies are now ISECG members (in alphabetical order): ASI (Italy), CNES (France), CNSA (China), CSA (Canada), CSIRO (Australia), DLR (Germany), ESA (European Space Agency), ISRO (India), JAXA (Japan), KARI (Republic of Korea), NASA (United States of America), NSAU (Ukraine), POLSA (Poland), ROSA (Romania), Roscosmos (Russia), UAE Space Agency (United Arab Emirates), UKSA (United Kingdom).

Source: Radio Romania News, Romanian Space Agency ROSA