NASA invites ISRO to join its Moon Base programme

Why in News?

NASA has invited ISRO to participate in its ambitious Moon Base programme, deepening India-US cooperation in space under the Artemis Accords.

The development came during the 9th meeting of the India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG) held on 5–6 August 2026 at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru.

Key Points 

• NASA invited ISRO to join efforts related to establishing an enduring human presence on the Moon.
• The cooperation builds upon the Artemis Accords, which provide principles for peaceful and sustainable exploration of the Moon and other celestial bodies.
• Both countries agreed to advance discussions on open scientific data sharing under the Artemis framework.

India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group

• 9th meeting: Held on 5–6 August 2026 in Bengaluru.
• The meeting focused on expanding civil and commercial space cooperation between India and the US.
• Cooperation is being advanced under the Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology (TRUST) Initiative.
• It is aligned with the February 2025 India-US Joint Leaders’ Statement.

NISAR Mission

• The two sides discussed expanding cooperation following the successful launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission.
• NISAR is a joint Earth-observation mission of NASA and ISRO.
• Future cooperation is expected to include:
  • Space science
  • Human spaceflight technologies
  • Advanced space research and exploration.

Sustainable Use of Outer Space

• India and the US reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) guidelines on the long-term sustainability of outer-space activities.
• They also reviewed ongoing multilateral efforts to strengthen the effectiveness of COPUOS.

NASA’s Moon Base Programme

• NASA’s planned lunar outpost aims to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon.
• The programme envisages astronauts living, working and conducting scientific exploration near the Moon’s South Pole.
• Through a combination of crewed and uncrewed missions, NASA and its partners plan to develop infrastructure required for long-duration lunar activities.
• Major objectives include advancing lunar science, developing new space technologies, supporting human exploration, establishing infrastructure for an enduring human presence on the lunar surface.

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