India’s role in international lunar exploration could expand significantly after NASA invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to join its planned Moon Base programme. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor announced the development on Tuesday following a key space cooperation meeting in Bengaluru.
The announcement was made after the 9th Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting held in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Gor shared the news on X, saying NASA’s invitation to ISRO would strengthen the deep-space partnership between the US and India. He also pointed to the joint efforts of the US Department of State and NASA under the US-India TRUST initiative.
Before the announcement, the US Embassy in India had also promoted NASA’s Moon Base plans through a post on X. The embassy said the project would create humanity’s first outpost on the Moon and would play a role in advancing lunar science while preparing for future crewed missions to Mars.
NASA’s proposed Moon Base is intended to become a place where astronauts can live, work and explore on the lunar surface. The outpost is planned near the Moon’s South Pole and is expected to support scientific research as well as preparations for future human exploration of Mars.
According to NASA, the agency and its partners will use a combination of crewed and uncrewed missions to establish the infrastructure required for a sustained human presence on the Moon. These efforts are also aimed at advancing space science, technology and exploration.
An ISRO role in the programme would potentially bring the two space agencies closer in several advanced areas. These could include lunar science, human spaceflight, deep-space exploration and the development of advanced space technologies.
The invitation is also significant for India’s position in global space cooperation. Greater participation in NASA’s lunar programme could strengthen ISRO’s role as a major international partner in future space exploration missions
