NASA has officially invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to collaborate on its ambitious Moon Base programme, as announced during the recent ninth meeting of the India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group in Bengaluru. This invitation builds on the two countries' partnership under the Artemis Accords and aims to advance discussions for cooperation on open scientific data sharing.
The Moon Base program, unveiled by NASA in March 2026, envisages building humanity's first outpost on another celestial body near the lunar South Pole. This phased program combines robotic and human missions, with the initial phase focusing on robotic exploration, technology demonstration, and laying the groundwork for a sustained human presence on the Moon.