Deepening ties, NASA invites ISRO to join its Moon Base programme, Pg3

Key Highlights:

• NASA has invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme, aiming for a permanent human settlement on the Moon.
• The invitation was extended during the ninth India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting held in Bengaluru.
• India became the 27th signatory to the Artemis Accords in 2023, a US-led initiative for civil space exploration principles.
• This collaboration builds upon existing partnerships, including the NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) mission and human spaceflight cooperation.

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Detailed Insights:

• The Moon Base programme is an integral part of NASA's Artemis program, which seeks to return humans to the lunar surface.
• The Artemis Accords establish a common set of non-binding principles for the peaceful and sustainable exploration of outer space.
• Discussions at the joint working group also focused on advancing cooperation for open scientific data sharing under the Artemis Accords.
• A strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation was established between India and the US in 2023.
• Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is scheduled to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2025 as a result of this arrangement.
• The NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) mission, launched last year, is a significant joint Earth-observing satellite venture.
• ISRO is also progressing with its indigenous Gaganyaan human spaceflight program.
• India aims to achieve a human landing on the Moon by the year 2040, complementing global lunar exploration efforts.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Artemis Accords: A set of non-binding principles guiding civil space exploration, particularly lunar, signed by multiple nations.
• NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar): A joint Earth-observing satellite mission designed to map global environmental changes.
• Gaganyaan: India's indigenous human spaceflight program aiming to send astronauts into low Earth orbit.
• International Space Station (ISS): A habitable artificial satellite in low Earth orbit, a collaborative project involving multiple space agencies.