Space initiatives | MRIC Newsletter2026

Initiatives under the Space Unit

Mauritius Becomes 70th Signatory to the Artemis Accords

On 17 July 2026, the Republic of Mauritius officially became the 70th signatory to the Artemis Accords, marking an important step in the country’s commitment to peaceful, transparent and sustainable civil space exploration. The Accords were signed at the MRIC by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research, following the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers on 10 July 2026. The ceremony was attended by Ms Sarah Troutman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of African Affairs, high-level officials from the Embassy of the United States of America, Ambassador Janmajaising (Roy) Bissoondoyal, Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Mauritius, and senior officials from the Ministry.

Artemis Accords are a non-binding multilateral framework, launched in 2020, to guide cooperation in the civil exploration and use of outer space. By joining the Artemis Accords, Mauritius becomes part of a growing group of nations working together to promote responsible space governance, further strengthening its voice as an African Small Island Developing State in the global space arena.

This milestone is closely aligned with the Mauritius Space Strategy 2036, drafted by the MRIC Space Unit, and reinforces the country’s ambition to develop a responsible, science-driven and internationally connected space agenda. It also opens new opportunities for diplomatic, technical and institutional collaboration in areas linked to national resilience, sustainable development and the strategic priorities of Small Island Developing States.

Going forward, Mauritius will focus on ensuring purposeful participation in the Artemis Accords through coordinated representation, follow-up, reporting and partnership development. The MRIC Space Unit is expected to play a central role in supporting national coordination and helping translate this international commitment into practical benefits for the country.

Photos: GIS Mauritius

Mauritius Space Strategy 2036: Charting a New Frontier for National Development

Mauritius is advancing its space ambitions through the Mauritius Space Strategy 2036, a national roadmap developed by the MRIC to leverage space technologies for sustainable development, innovation and climate resilience.

Building on the success of MIR-SAT1, the Strategy aims to expand the use of satellite data, strengthen local expertise, promote research and entrepreneurship, and support better decision-making in areas such as agriculture, disaster management, coastal protection and ocean management.

The Strategy also seeks to deepen international partnerships, develop national capabilities, and position Mauritius as a regional leader in space-enabled solutions for Small Island Developing States. Through this initiative, Mauritius is harnessing space technologies to drive economic growth, environmental sustainability and national resilience.

US-Mauritius Space Innovation Panel Discussion - Space Innovation, Public-Private partnerships and Strategic competitiveness

On 19 May 2026, the United States Embassy in Mauritius hosted a panel discussion under the Freedom250: Artemis and US Leadership in Space Innovation programme, bringing together experts from space science, research and diplomacy to explore how space innovation can support the development priorities of Mauritius.

Moderated by John Ries, Consul of the US Embassy, the panel featured Jim Adams, former NASA Deputy Chief of Technologies; Craig Habmaier, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy; Dr Vickram Bissonauth, Research Coordinator and Lead of the Mauritius Space Initiative; and Professor Theesan Bahorun, Executive Director of the MRIC.

The discussion focused on the growing importance of space technology for Small Island Developing States, particularly in areas such as climate resilience, disaster management, maritime security, agriculture and coastal monitoring. Panelists noted that for Mauritius, space innovation is not a distant ambition but a practical tool to address national challenges.

Prof. Bahorun highlighted the expanding space mandate of Mauritius and the strategic value of its vast Exclusive Economic Zone of around 2.2 million km². From the launch of MIRSAT-1 in 2021 to ongoing collaboration on a second satellite project, Mauritius is steadily developing capabilities that respond to local needs.

Key applications discussed included the use of satellite data for cyclone and flood preparedness, crop monitoring, irrigation planning, beach erosion assessment, lagoon health monitoring and the protection of the blue economy. The NEREUS project, which supports the detection of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing within the EEZ of Mauritius, was cited as an example of how satellite data can be translated into operational impact.

The panel also emphasized the importance of international partnerships, particularly with agencies such as NASA, in supporting training, technical exchanges, joint projects and access to advanced Earth observation expertise.

Dr Bissonauth underlined the need to train young professionals in satellite data analysis, artificial intelligence, programming, GIS, Earth observation and project management. These skills are central to building a national workforce capable of using space technologies for environmental monitoring, resource management and policy support.

Looking ahead, the discussion pointed to the potential of Mauritius to strengthen its role as a regional hub for space applications, climate resilience and blue economy innovation. Through targeted partnerships and capacity building, Mauritius is positioning space technology as a practical driver of national development.

Photos: US Embassy, Mauritius and MRIC

The India Mauritius Satellite 1 – Mahasagar

In November 2023, the MRIC signed an MoU with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the design and build of the India Mauritius Satellite -1 Mahasagar (IMS-1 Mahasagar) project. The IMS-1 Mahasagar is jointly being developed by MRIC and ISRO with the Government of India, thru ISRO, bearing all the costs related to satellite design, build, launch and deployment.

As part of the project implementation phase, a team of engineers from ISRO undertook an official visit to the MRIC from 3 to 5 November 2025. The visit encompassed a series of structured technical meetings as well as public dissemination workshops, during which the IMS-1 Mahasagar project was comprehensively presented to stakeholders and its technical parameters examined in detail with the MRIC technical team.

The delegation, led by Programme Director Shri Ravi Chandra Babu G, presented the latest innovations behind the IMJS — a satellite that will pass over Mauritius twice daily, carry a multispectral camera with 15-metre resolution, and feature a fully 3D-printed structure, making it lighter and more capable than any of its predecessors.

Once in orbit, the IMJS will deliver multispectral imagery of Mauritius approximately once every seven days, with coverage extending to Rodrigues and Agalega. The MRIC Ground Station at Ebène is being upgraded ahead of launch, with key components already being sourced by ISRO's National Remote Sensing Centre for shipment to the island.

Two workshops held on 5 November 2025 brought engineering students, government representatives, academia and industry together around spacecraft engineering and mission design — attended by Minister Dr the Hon. Kaviraj Sharma Sukon and India's Deputy High Commissioner, Mrs Aparna Ganesan.

Three MRIC engineers have already completed hands-on training at ISRO Headquarters, and both parties agreed to explore further training opportunities. ISRO also offered Mauritian researchers free access to its satellite data archives.

The IMJS is more than a satellite — it is a symbol of India and Mauritius's enduring partnership in science and technology, and a cornerstone of the Mauritius Space Strategy. As launch day approaches, the collaboration is set to transform Mauritius's capacity for data-driven decision-making for years to come.

Photos: MRIC

Workshop on Exploring Satellite Data Solutions for Mauritius – MRIC in collaboration with Airbus

On 31 July 2025, the MRIC, in collaboration with Airbus, convened a high-level strategic workshop at MRIC Headquarters, Ebène, under the theme "Exploring Satellite Data Solutions for Mauritius." The event brought together senior representatives from government ministries, academia, and the private sector to explore how satellite data can drive national development, climate resilience, and economic productivity.

Professor Theesan Bahorun, Executive Director of MRIC, opened proceedings by tracing the remarkable space journey of Mauritius — from winning the UNOOSA–JAXA KiboCUBE award in 2018, to the successful launch and operation of MIR-SAT1 via SpaceX in June 2021. Today, that foundation has grown into a network of strategic partnerships with ISRO (India), the UAE's Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, the Surrey Space Centre (UK), and now Airbus (Europe) — each contributing to a growing national capacity in space research and applications.

The Honourable Minister of Tertiary Education, Science and Research, Dr. Kaviraj Sukon, set a clear strategic direction: the space ambitions of Mauritius are not about building satellites — they are about putting satellite data to work. From precision agriculture and fisheries management to disaster risk reduction and national planning, AI-driven satellite applications hold transformative potential for the island nation. Critically, the Minister noted that a recent national survey revealed only one-third of respondents currently use satellite data, underscoring the urgent need for greater awareness, accessibility, and adoption.

Dr. Vickram Bissonauth presented findings from MRIC's national survey on satellite data usage, identifying key institutional users — including the Meteorological Services, the Irrigation Authority, and the Sugar Insurance Fund Board — while flagging significant gaps: limited high-resolution data, inadequate processing tools, and the absence of a unified data-sharing platform. The survey called for investment in cloud-based tools, technical training, and the development of a Digital Twin for Mauritius.

Airbus representatives Dr. John Wills and Mr. Tim Pattison showcased 17 years of partnership with Mauritius, presenting the latest in optical and radar satellite technology — with resolutions as fine as 30 centimetres — alongside AI-powered applications including urban growth monitoring, coastal erosion tracking, seagrass mapping, and maritime surveillance. In a significant commitment to national capacity building, Airbus offered free access to archived and new Vision-1 imagery to support the development of Mauritius's Digital Twin.

The workshop concluded with clear action points: MRIC will consolidate user requirements for the Digital Twin and coordinate with Airbus, the Prime Minister's Office, and the University of Mauritius, while Airbus will provide Vision-1 imagery and bathymetry specifications in support of national planning efforts.

As a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), Mauritius is positioning itself as a regional hub for Earth observation and space-enabled innovation — using the power of space not as an end in itself, but as a practical tool for inclusive and sustainable development.