Space Cooperation / NASA Invites ISRO to Join Moon Base Programme

Bengaluru, Aug 11: India and the United States have taken a major step forward in space collaboration, with NASA formally inviting ISRO to join its ambitious Moon Base programme.

The invitation was extended during high-level bilateral talks held at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru on August 5-6, co-chaired by NASA and the US State Department.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor announced the development on Tuesday, describing it as a milestone in the growing deep-space partnership between the two nations. “NASA has invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme, deepening the US-India deep space partnership,” Gor said in a post on social media platform X.

NASA has invited @ISRO to join its Moon Base program, deepening the U.S.-India deep space partnership! The news came as @StateDept and @NASA co-chaired the 9th Civil Space Joint Working Group in Bengaluru, advancing the 🇺🇸-🇮🇳 TRUST initiative. https://t.co/qLbhitmHCO

— Ambassador Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) August 11, 2026

The proposal builds on cooperation under the Artemis Accords, a framework designed to promote international partnerships for the peaceful exploration of the Moon and beyond.

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Both sides agreed to continue discussions on sharing open scientific data under the Artemis framework and to explore opportunities in space science, advanced technologies, human spaceflight, and commercial space activities.

The talks also reviewed the success of the recently launched NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, a landmark joint project aimed at monitoring Earth’s surface changes and supporting research on natural hazards, ecosystems, and climate change.

Officials said the two countries are keen to build on NISAR’s success with additional collaborative missions and technology initiatives.

Another key focus was the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. India and the US reaffirmed their commitment to guidelines developed through the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and discussed ways to strengthen global space governance mechanisms.

The two-day meeting highlighted the strategic importance of space cooperation in the broader US-India partnership. With ISRO’s growing capabilities and NASA’s global leadership, the collaboration is expected to accelerate innovation, expand scientific knowledge, and reinforce responsible behaviour in space.

The invitation to join NASA’s Moon Base programme marks a new chapter in India-US space relations, positioning both nations as key players in shaping the future of lunar exploration and deep-space missions.

(IANS)