India-US space ties deepen as NASA invites ISRO to join moon base program

The Indian space agency ISRO has been formally invited to collaborate on NASA's goal of establishing a permanent base near the moon's south pole, deepening ties between the two countries' deep-space cooperation. This invitation was extended at the ninth meeting of the U.S.-India Civil Space Joint Working Group held in Bengaluru, marking a significant milestone in bilateral space endeavors.

NASA's renewed interest in India's involvement in the Moon Base program signifies their intent to engage with partners in advancing lunar exploration. The meeting, co-chaired by M. Sankaran and Wesley Brooks, provided a platform for senior officials from both nations to discuss potential frameworks for collaboration. NASA's Artemis program aims to construct a lunar base by the late 2020s, leveraging the permanently shadowed craters at the moon's south pole, believed to harbor valuable water ice resources.

This base, envisioned as a city-like structure, will rely on advanced technologies like solar power and nuclear systems. To prepare for this ambitious mission, NASA has adjusted its plans, postponing the Gateway space station project to prioritize infrastructure for sustained lunar operations. India's participation in this endeavor aligns with its broader lunar exploration roadmap, including the development of a moon base, a lunar orbiting space station, and the eventual sending of Indian astronauts to the moon by the 2040s.