NASA has invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to participate in its ambitious Moon Base programme, marking a further expansion of space cooperation between India and the United States.
The development follows the 9th meeting of the India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group, held at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru, according to India’s state broadcaster DD News.
The invitation builds on cooperation between the two countries under the Artemis Accords and is expected to strengthen their partnership in lunar and deep-space exploration.
During the talks, officials from both countries discussed expanding collaboration in areas including human spaceflight, space science, exploration, technology and commercial space activities.
The two sides also discussed cooperation on sharing scientific data and opportunities for their respective space industries.
The latest development comes as NASA moves ahead with its Artemis programme, which is aimed at returning astronauts to the Moon and establishing a sustained human presence on and around the lunar surface.
India has also significantly expanded its lunar exploration capabilities in recent years, highlighted by the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission, which made India the first country to successfully land a spacecraft near the Moon’s south polar region.
The invitation for ISRO to participate in the Moon Base programme represents another significant step in the growing strategic and scientific partnership between India and the United States.