ISRO Invited To Join NASA's Moon Base Program: 'Mankind's Next Giant Leap'

Published 11 August 2026 · local

News india ISRO Invited To Join NASA's Moon Base Program: 'Mankind's Next Giant Leap' ISRO Invited To Join NASA's Moon Base Program: 'Mankind's Next Giant

News india ISRO Invited To Join NASA's Moon Base Program: 'Mankind's Next Giant Leap' ISRO Invited To Join NASA's Moon Base Program: 'Mankind's Next Giant Leap' Published By, Last Updated: August 11, 2026, 16:13 IST US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said NASA’s invitation to ISRO would further deepen the two countries’ partnership in deep-space exploration. ISRO’s potential participation in the Moon Base programme could open new avenues for Indian scientists and engineers to contribute to lunar exploration, technology development and future deep-space missions. India’s space programme is set to take another major step into deep-space exploration, with NASA inviting the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to join its planned Moon Base programme. The proposed lunar outpost is being developed as a platform for scientific research on the Moon and is expected to play a key role in preparing for future crewed missions to Mars.

The US Embassy in India announced the development on X, describing the Moon Base as “humanity’s first outpost on the Moon" and saying it would help drive new breakthroughs in lunar science. “Mankind’s next giant leap is underway! NASA is building a Moon Base: humanity’s first outpost on the Moon," the US Embassy in India said in its post. It added that the base would support lunar scientific research and help prepare for crewed missions to Mars. The announcement comes amid growing cooperation between India and the United States in space exploration. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said NASA’s invitation to ISRO would further deepen the two countries’ partnership in deep-space exploration. “NASA has invited ISRO to join its Moon Base program, deepening the U.S.-India deep space partnership!" Gor wrote on X.

He said the development was announced during the 9th Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting in Bengaluru, which was co-chaired by the US State Department and NASA. The meeting focused on advancing cooperation under the US-India TRUST initiative, further strengthening collaboration between the two countries in civil space activities. The invitation comes as both India and the US expand their ambitions beyond Earth orbit. India has been pursuing increasingly ambitious lunar and human-spaceflight programmes, while NASA is developing a long-term strategy for establishing a sustained human presence around and on the Moon as a stepping stone towards Mars. The US Embassy also teased a major upcoming announcement related to the Moon Base, saying that further details would be revealed soon. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Saurabh Verma Chief Sub-Editor Saurabh Verma is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, specializing in Indian politics, national current affairs, and breaking global news.