NASA invites ISRO to join Moon Base programme
NASA has formally invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to participate in its Moon Base program, which aims to establish humanity's first lunar outpost near the South Pole. This invitation builds on the existing partnership under the Artemis Accords and was extended during a recent India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting in Bengaluru.
Why it matters
This collaboration signifies a major step in international space cooperation, potentially accelerating lunar exploration and establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon, while also strengthening U.S.-India strategic ties in space and advancing scientific data sharing.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to be part of its Moon Base programme.
At the ninth meeting of the India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG), held in Bengaluru recently, the formal invitation for India to join the programme was made by the U.S. space agency.
“NASA invited ISRO to join its Moon Base program, building on the two countries’ partnership under the Artemis Accords. The two sides also agreed to advance discussions for cooperation on open scientific data sharing under the Accords,” said a statement from the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India.
According to NASA, the programme envisages building humanity’s first outpost on another celestial body near the lunar South Pole.
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