NASA Invites ISRO for Moon Base Programme

NASA has invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to join its Moon Base programme under the Artemis Accords. The discussions on lunar cooperation and open scientific data sharing were linked to India’s signature on the Artemis Accords on 21 June 2023.

Artemis Accords

The Artemis Accords are a set of non-binding principles for civil space exploration and use. They were launched by the United States in 2020 and cover transparency, interoperability, emergency assistance, release of scientific data, and the registration of space objects.

India became a signatory to the Artemis Accords on 21 June 2023. Other signatories include several spacefaring nations that support cooperation in lunar and deep-space activities.

India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group

The formal invitation was discussed during the 9th meeting of the India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG), held at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru on 5–6 August 2026. The opening segment was addressed by Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman of ISRO and Secretary of the Department of Space, and H.E. Sergio Gor, the U.S. Ambassador to India.

The bilateral talks were co-chaired by M. Sankaran of the UR Rao Satellite Centre on the Indian side, Dr. Wesley Brooks of the U.S. side, and Kathleen Karika, NASA Associate Administrator. The CSJWG is a formal mechanism for civil space cooperation between India and the United States.

Moon Base Programme and Related Space Cooperation

The Moon Base programme is part of NASA’s broader Artemis architecture for sustained lunar exploration. Artemis includes the Orion spacecraft, the Space Launch System, the Gateway lunar station, and planned human missions to the Moon.

NASA and ISRO also agreed to advance discussions on open scientific data sharing. The cooperation was linked to the U.S.-India Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology (TRUST) Initiative and the February 2025 Joint Leaders’ Statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump.

The expanded lunar cooperation follows the July 2025 launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission. NISAR is an Earth-observation satellite mission designed to study land deformation, ice dynamics, and ecosystems using dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Artemis Accords were launched in 2020 by the United States for civil space cooperation.
• India signed the Artemis Accords on 21 June 2023.
• NISAR stands for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar.
• COPUOS stands for the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

Outer Space Governance

COPUOS is the United Nations body that deals with the peaceful uses of outer space and space-law development. The long-term sustainability of outer space activities is linked to debris mitigation, safe operations, and responsible use of orbital resources.