New Delhi: India’s space programme is set to enter a new phase of international cooperation, with NASA inviting the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to join its ambitious Moon Base programme. The proposal marks a significant expansion of the growing India-US partnership in space exploration and could open the door to deeper collaboration on future lunar missions, human spaceflight and technologies needed for sustained activity on the Moon.
The invitation was extended during the ninth meeting of the India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group, held in Bengaluru on August 5 and 6. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also addressed the meeting. According to a read-out issued by the US Embassy in India, NASA invited ISRO to participate in its Moon Base programme, building on cooperation between the two countries under the Artemis Accords.
India joined the US-led Artemis Accords in 2023 as the 27th signatory. The framework lays down common principles for peaceful and sustainable civil exploration of the Moon and other celestial bodies. The number of participating countries has since grown to 70.
The latest invitation comes after several milestones in India-US space cooperation. In 2023, the two countries also agreed to develop a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation. As part of this partnership, NASA provided advanced training to Indian astronauts, contributing to Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey to the International Space Station aboard a privately operated mission in 2025.
Another major achievement was the launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission last year. The joint satellite, designed to provide advanced radar observations of Earth, has been viewed as an important demonstration of the two agencies’ ability to undertake technically complex missions together.
The success of NISAR could now provide a foundation for more ambitious projects, including lunar exploration and human spaceflight. Discussions at the Bengaluru meeting covered future joint missions to the Moon and beyond, as well as areas where NASA and ISRO could exchange expertise and scientific knowledge.
NASA’s Artemis programme aims to return humans to the Moon and eventually establish a sustained human presence there. Two preliminary missions have already taken place, including an uncrewed flight in 2022 and a crewed lunar flyby in April. A subsequent mission is expected to attempt the first human lunar landing since the Apollo era, potentially by 2028.
India, meanwhile, has its own human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan, and has set an ambitious goal of sending Indian astronauts to the Moon by 2040.
The two countries have also agreed to advance discussions on scientific data sharing and reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable and peaceful activities in outer space. With NISAR demonstrating the potential of joint missions, the Moon Base proposal could become the next major milestone in the rapidly deepening India-US space partnership.
