NASA invites ISRO to join Moon Base programme

NASA has officially invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to collaborate on its ambitious Moon Base programme, as announced during the recent ninth meeting of the India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group in Bengaluru.

Updated - August 12, 2026 05:59 pm IST - Bengaluru

According to NASA, the programme envisages building humanity’s first outpost on another celestial body near the lunar South Pole. | Photo Credit: Antranik Tavitian

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to be part of its Moon Base programme.

At the ninth meeting of the India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG), held in Bengaluru recently, the formal invitation for India to join the programme was made by the U.S. space agency.

“NASA invited ISRO to join its Moon Base program, building on the two countries’ partnership under the Artemis Accords. The two sides also agreed to advance discussions for cooperation on open scientific data sharing under the Accords,” said a statement from the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in India.

According to NASA, the programme envisages building humanity’s first outpost on another celestial body near the lunar South Pole.

The programme will be executed in three phases. It was announced during NASA’s “Ignition” event on March 24, 2026, where the agency unveiled a series of initiatives to achieve President Donald Trump’s National Space Policy and advance American leadership in space.

The meeting, held at ISRO headquarters, also advanced civil and commercial space cooperation under the U.S.-India Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology (TRUST) Initiative, aligning with the February 2025 Joint Leaders’ Statement issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump.

“Both sides discussed expanding cooperation following the successful launch of the joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission last year, as well as pursuing future science and human spaceflight technology collaborations. They 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, as well as reviewed ongoing multilateral efforts for ensuring the Committee’s effectiveness,” the statement added.

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor, and senior officials from both countries attended the meeting.

Published - August 11, 2026 06:14 pm IST

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