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In a landmark tie-up between India and the US in the field of space partnership and exploration, the two countries have agreed to work under a Strategic Framework for Human Spaceflight Cooperation to deepen interoperability in space.
This significant agreement coincides with US National Security Adviser (NSA) Jake Sullivan's visit to India and represents a major step forward in bilateral space collaboration.
Under the newly established framework, ISRO astronauts will receive advanced training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. This marks the first-ever joint effort between NASA and ISRO astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS).
The fact sheet issued by both nations after the iCET Dialogue between NSA Jake Sullivan and Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval highlighted this cooperation, celebrating the conclusion of the Strategic Framework for Human Spaceflight Cooperation.
NASA will play a crucial role in training two Indian astronauts, one of whom is expected to fly to the ISS later this year. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath previously indicated that four astronauts might be selected for this advanced training. Additionally, India plans to construct its own space station, the Bharatiya Antariksha Station, which ISRO will operate.
This station, expected to be completed by 2035, will be smaller than the ISS, with a mass of 20 tonnes compared to the ISS's 450 tonnes, and will be used for microgravity experiments at an altitude of around 400 km.
The fact sheet also revealed that India and the US are exploring opportunities for India’s participation in the Lunar Gateway Programme. This initiative aims to build a space station orbiting the Moon, as part of the broader Artemis programme led by the US. The Lunar Gateway will support lunar surface missions, scientific research, and future deep-space endeavors.
It involves a multinational partnership, including NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
Preparations are underway for the launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), a jointly developed satellite set to map the Earth's surface twice every 12 days. This mission, aimed at combating climate change and addressing other global challenges, will be the first radar imaging satellite to use dual frequencies.
NISAR will observe complex natural processes such as ecosystem disturbances, ice-sheet collapse, earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides.
The iCET talks also witnessed the launch of a partnership between the US Space Force and Indian startups 114ai and 3rdiTech. This collaboration focuses on advancing space situational awareness, data fusion technologies, and infra-red sensor semiconductor manufacturing. The partnership was welcomed, along with India's observation of the US Space Command's Global Sentinel Exercise at Vandenburg Space Force Base and its planned participation in 2025.
The fact sheet highlighted the strengthening of defense space cooperation through the second Advanced Domains Defense Dialogue held at the Pentagon in May 2024. This included an India-US space table-top exercise and bilateral expert exchanges on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The dialogue emphasized significant funding commitments, NASA-ISRO collaboration, advancements in defense space technology, telecommunications, semiconductor partnerships, and cooperation in quantum and artificial intelligence domains.
The Strategic Framework for Human Spaceflight Cooperation between India and the US marks a significant advancement in space collaboration. From training ISRO astronauts at NASA’s Johnson Space Center to exploring joint missions at the ISS and participating in the Lunar Gateway Programme, these initiatives underscore the deepening partnership between the two nations. As they work together on projects like the NISAR satellite and defense space cooperation, the future of space exploration looks promising, characterized by innovation, shared expertise, and mutual goals.
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