Bengaluru, August 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
NASA has invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to participate in its Moon Base programme, marking a fresh step in the growing India-US partnership in lunar exploration, human spaceflight and space science.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said the proposal emerged during high-level bilateral discussions held at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru on August 5 and 6.
The two-day meeting brought together officials from ISRO, NASA and the US State Department to review ongoing programmes and explore new areas of cooperation.
“NASA has invited ISRO to join its Moon Base program, deepening the U.S.-India deep space partnership! The news came as StateDept and NASA co-chaired the 9th Civil Space Joint Working Group in Bengaluru, advancing the 🇺🇸-🇮🇳 TRUST initiative,” Gor said in a post on X.
The proposed collaboration builds on India-US cooperation under the Artemis Accords, which seek to promote international partnerships for the peaceful exploration of the Moon and other destinations beyond Earth.
The two sides also agreed to continue discussions on sharing open scientific data under the Artemis framework. They explored potential cooperation in space science, advanced technologies and human spaceflight as well.
The discussions followed the successful launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, a major joint initiative designed to monitor changes on Earth’s surface and support research into natural hazards, ecosystems and environmental changes.
Officials indicated that the success of NISAR could provide a foundation for additional joint missions and space technology projects between the two countries.
Long-term sustainability of outer space activities was another key area discussed during the meeting. India and the US reaffirmed their commitment to guidelines developed through the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
The two sides also reviewed ongoing multilateral efforts aimed at encouraging responsible behaviour in space and strengthening global mechanisms for space governance.
The latest discussions underline the expanding scope of India-US space cooperation, with both countries seeking deeper engagement across lunar exploration, scientific research, human spaceflight, advanced technologies and commercial space activities.
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