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NEW DELHI: NASA has invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to join its Moon Base programme, marking a new step in India-US cooperation in lunar exploration and human spaceflight.
The development was confirmed by the US Embassy in India following the ninth meeting of the India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group, held at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru on August 5–6. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also highlighted the invitation, describing it as part of the growing India-US deep-space partnership.
NASA’s Moon Base programme is aimed at establishing a long-term human presence on the lunar surface, particularly near the Moon’s South Pole. The programme will begin with robotic missions to study the region and test technologies, before progressively developing infrastructure needed for astronauts to live, work and conduct scientific research on the Moon. NASA says the effort is also intended to build experience and technologies for future deep-space and Mars missions.
The US Embassy said the latest India-US discussions also covered future space-science cooperation, human-spaceflight technologies and scientific-data sharing under the Artemis Accords. The two countries are also building on their existing cooperation in civil and commercial space activities.
India’s inclusion would build on ISRO’s growing lunar capabilities. Chandrayaan-3 made India the first country to achieve a soft landing near the Moon’s south polar region in 2023, an area of particular importance for future lunar exploration.
However, the two countries have not yet publicly specified ISRO’s exact role in the Moon Base programme. There is currently no official confirmation that India will build a particular module, provide a specific piece of infrastructure or send Indian astronauts to the base.
Why is it significant?
The invitation could give India a larger role in the international effort to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon. It also strengthens the strategic India-US space partnership and could provide ISRO with opportunities to contribute its lunar exploration expertise to future human and robotic missions.
For India, the development is particularly significant because its Chandrayaan missions, upcoming lunar exploration plans and human-spaceflight programme are increasingly positioning ISRO as a key player in the next phase of lunar exploration.
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