Bengaluru, Aug 11 (NVI) NASA has invited ISRO to join its Moon Base program, building on the two countries’ partnership under the Artemis Accords.
This was stated by the US Embassy after the 9th meeting of the India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG) held at the headquarters of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Bengaluru.
It said the two sides also agreed to advance discussions for cooperation on open scientific data sharing under the Artemis Accords.
The meeting was co-chaired on the Indian side by M. Sankaran, Director of UR Rao Satellite Centre at the ISRO and on the U.S. side by Dr. Wesley Brooks, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs and Ms. Kathleen Karika, NASA Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations.
Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman of ISRO and Secretary of Department of Space, and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor addressed the opening segment and highlighted the significance of further strengthening the bilateral space cooperation.
“The meeting advanced civil and commercial space cooperation under the U.S.-India Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology (TRUST) Initiative, in line with the February 2025 Joint Leaders’ Statement issued by Prime Minister Modi and President Trump,” the statement said.
Both sides discussed expanding cooperation following the successful launch of the joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission last year, as well as pursuing future science and human space flight technology collaborations, it said.
They reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) guidelines on the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, as well as reviewed ongoing multilateral efforts for ensuring the Committee’s effectiveness, the statement said. (NVI)
