HOUSTON: Marking a significant milestone in the India-US space partnership and space exploration, the two countries concluded the Strategic Framework for Human Spaceflight Cooperation to deepen interoperability in space. They are working toward commencing advanced training for ISRO astronauts at the NASA Johnson Space Center, the first-ever joint effort between NASA and ISRO astronauts at the International Space Station.
NASA will train two Indian astronauts, one of whom will fly to the International Space Station later this year. ISRO chairman S. Somanath had earlier mentioned that ISRO would likely select four astronauts for training.
Notably, India’s planned space station, called the Bharatiya Antariksha Station, will be built and operated by ISRO. The station is expected to be completed by 2035. NASA plans to decommission the ISS by 2031. The Indian space station will be smaller than the ISS, with a mass of 20 tons (compared to the ISS’s 450 tons and the Chinese Tiangong Space Station’s 100 tons). It will be used for microgravity experiments.
Meanwhile, the two sides are also exploring opportunities to participate in the Lunar Gateway Program. The Lunar Gateway represents a significant leap in human space exploration, offering a versatile platform for lunar surface missions, scientific research, and preparation for future deep-space endeavors spearheaded by the US. Artemis intends to establish a long-term base on the Moon (Artemis Base), and the Lunar Gateway will serve as a multi-purpose outpost that orbits the Moon.
