Bengaluru, Dec 21 (Reporter) In a significant step towards advancing human space exploration, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have entered into a partnership to collaborate on astronaut training, mission implementation, and research experiments. A key focus of this collaboration is the upcoming Axiom-4 mission, which will feature Indian astronaut Gaganyatri alongside an ESA astronaut. The agreement was formalised by Dr S Somanath, Chairman of ISRO and Secretary of the Department of Space (DoS), and Dr Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA. This collaboration sets the stage for closer cooperation between the two agencies in areas such as astronaut training, research experiment development, and the use of ESA's facilities on the International Space Station (ISS). In the Axiom-4 mission, both ISRO and ESA astronauts will work together on scientific experiments. As part of the mission, ISRO and ESA will jointly carry out experiments developed by Indian researchers, marking a significant milestone in space research. Dr Somanath highlighted ISRO's long-term vision for human space exploration, noting the recent approval of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) as a crucial step toward enhancing interoperability between spaceflight platforms. Dr Aschbacher also expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, acknowledging that the agreement provides a solid foundation for ongoing collaboration in space exploration. The leaders of both agencies expressed satisfaction with the preparations for Axiom-4 and stressed the importance of continuing joint activities in the field of human spaceflight. They also highlighted the role of education and outreach in inspiring future generations of space scientists and explorers...////...