NASA has invited the Indian Space Research organization (ISRO) to join its Moon Base programme under the Artemis Accords, opening a new chapter in India-U.S. cooperation on lunar exploration and scientific data sharing.
The invitation was extended during the 9th meeting of the India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG), held at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru on August 5–6, 2026. The meeting brought together senior officials from both countries, including ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan, U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, and NASA Associate Administrator Kathleen Karika.
The Moon Base programme forms part of NASA’s broader Artemis architecture for sustained lunar exploration. It includes the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System, Gateway lunar station, and planned crewed missions to the Moon.
The two sides also agreed to advance discussions on open scientific data sharing under the U.S.-India TRUST Initiative. The cooperation builds on the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, launched in July 2025 to study land deformation, ice dynamics and ecosystems.
India joined the Artemis Accords on June 21, 2023. The non-binding principles promote transparency, interoperability, emergency assistance, scientific data sharing and the registration of space objects.
