NASA and the Israel Space Agency (ISA) signed a cooperation agreement during this year’s International Astronautical Congress, which is being held in Jerusalem, The Times of Israel reported today.

The deal was signed by NASA administrator Charles Bolden and ISA director Menachem Kidron on the sidelines of the International Astronautical Congress in Jerusalem.

Bolden said the agreement would enable the US space agency to tap Israeli innovation and technology in cooperation

“Our two countries have had a long history of cooperation in space exploration, scientific discovery and research, and we look forward to the opportunities this new agreement provides us to build upon this partnership,” he said in a statement.

Israel hopes that Israeli technology will be used in America missions to Mars.

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained the parameters of cooperation between the two nations.

Among the potential areas of cooperation enabled by this agreement are: joint missions, personnel and scientific data exchanges, ground-based research facilities, space exploration and operations missions, joint workshops and meetings, scientific instruments onboard aircraft and spacecraft, sounding rocket and scientific balloon flights, space communications, educational outreach, and other spacecraft and space research platforms. The goal of the agreement is to provide the framework for discussions of areas of cooperation between the agencies which could then lead to more specific agreements between the two sides.

“The implications of this agreement for Israel’s space and scientific communities are tremendous,” said Israeli Minister of Science, Technology and Space Ofir Akunis in a statement. “The agreement provides us a platform for mutual cooperation between the Israeli and American space agencies and thus allows the science communities in both our counties important access to projects that offer the promise of significant development and growth in the years ahead.”

The ongoing five-day conference is hosting over 2,000 people from 58 countries, the Times reported. Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, is attending the conference as part of an initiative “to encourage interest in space education by Israeli youth.”

An earlier agreement between NASA and ISA in 1996 led to the training of Israel’s first astronaut, Ilan Ramon, for a mission aboard the space shuttle Columbia. Ramon was killed along with the rest of the crew when Columbia exploded as it reentered Earth’s atmosphere in 2003.

[Photo: Israel Ministry of Science, Technology and Space / YouTube ]