Moon Base: India and the US space collaboration may enter a new orbit

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in the former's 'Moon Base' programme. This invitation could mark a new era in space partnership between the two countries.

India and the US have forged significant collaboration through projects in recent years. Both have launched a bilateral space cooperation under NISAR ??? the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite. Similarly, Group Captain Shuhanshu Shukla travelled to the International Space Station as the pilot of the Axiom -4 mission. He is the first Indian to visit the ISS and conducted several microgravity experiments designed by Indian research institutions.

In this context, the Moon Base programme will be an upgradation if India joins it. This means that the next phase of Indo-US space collaboration will be near the moon's south pole.

NASA's invitation was made during the ninth meeting of the India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group, held at the ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru in August 2026.

Given that India and the US have collaborated in Earth observation and human spaceflight, the next phase of constructing infrastructure on the Moon's surface will be a significantly higher-level upgrade.

Still, the role that India has to play, the financial commitment, operational responsibilities etc. are yet to be discussed. Experts believe that ISRO could contribute scientific participation, robotic systems, communication facilities, surface technologies or human space expertise.

The strategic significance depends on the role India has to play under the programme.

The Moon Base is scientifically important and is historic in the context of lunar and space endeavours. Countries are showing significant efforts in constructing a lunar base given its scientific and economic benefits.

Construction of a base for human operations is believed to be the next big step in space explorations. In this context, the Moon Base programme is of extraordinary importance.

NASA formally announced the Moon Base initiative in March 2026. It aims a phased effort to establish a permanent outpost and support operations for continuous human and cargo missions on the Moon.

According to NASA, water on the Moon could be used for drinking purposes and similarly, breathable oxygen and hydrogen-based rocket fuel also can be produced.

The Moon Base programme is thus an infrastructure mission to create facilities for human settlement on the Moon.