Moon Base | India’s lunar future

The Moon has long been a celestial body that transcends borders, yet geopolitics has now firmly established its connection to Earth. In a recent meeting between India and the United States, NASA extended an invitation to India to participate in their "Moon Base" program, part of their Artemis Accords partnership. The facility, to be built near the Moon's south pole, will utilize sunlight and water-ice deposits for operations.

NASA is relying on private companies like Astrolab, Lunar Outpost, Blue Origin, Astrobotic, Firefly Aerospace, and Intuitive Machines for various aspects of the mission. Intuitive Machines, in particular, is developing a relay satellite. Meanwhile, NASA's Artemis III and IV missions have shifted their focus to crewed test flights and lunar landings, respectively, by 2027 and 2028.

India's involvement in this endeavor comes with significant geopolitical implications. As China and Russia announce plans for their own International Lunar Research Station, the Moon could become a battleground for technological and strategic dominance. While India could potentially cooperate with China on future lunar projects, the differing communication protocols, data formats, and operational procedures could make this a costly endeavor.

The U.S.-China rivalry, therefore, forces India to weigh the benefits of deepening its relationship with NASA against the costs of engaging with China.