NASA to Offer Advanced Training to Indian Astronauts for Joint Mission to ISS: Garcetti

Washington, May 25 : NASA and India are gearing up for a joint mission to the International Space Station, with advanced training for Indian astronauts set to commence soon, announced US envoy to India Eric Garcetti.
Garcetti revealed these plans while addressing the “US-India Commercial Space Conference: Unlocking Opportunities for US & Indian Space Startups,” held in Bengaluru on Friday by the US-India Business Council (USIBC) and the US Commercial Service (USCS).
“NASA will soon provide advanced training to Indian astronauts, with the aim of launching a joint mission to the International Space Station, hopefully, this year or shortly thereafter, as promised by our leaders during their visit together,” Garcetti stated.
Additionally, Garcetti highlighted the upcoming launch of the NISAR satellite from ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Center. NISAR, a joint Earth-observing mission between NASA and ISRO, is poised to monitor various resources, including ecosystems, the Earth’s surface, natural hazards, sea level rise, and the cryosphere.
“Whether it’s the pursuit of peace through space exploration or the creation of prosperity and jobs, startups in the space sector hold tremendous potential for generating good-paying, high-tech jobs for Indians and Americans alike,” Garcetti emphasized.
The event in Bengaluru featured the participation of senior officials from both the US and Indian governments, including Garcetti, ISRO Chairman Dr. S Somanath, representatives from NASA, NOAA, and the Government of India, as well as leaders from the commercial space industry, venture capitalists, and market analysts.
Expressing optimism about US-India collaboration in space, USIBC president Atul Keshap hailed it as a new chapter in the partnership. He underscored the importance of fostering strategic partnerships to drive innovation and propel the space industry forward.
In another development, senior defence officials from India and the US convened in Washington for the second annual US-India Advanced Domains Defence Dialogue (AD3). Discussions centered on strengthening space cooperation and identifying potential areas for collaboration with the American industry.
The dialogue, led by Vipin Narang, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defence for Space Policy, and Vishwesh Negi, India’s Joint Secretary for International Cooperation, explored opportunities to enhance cooperation in the space domain and advance AD3 through regular working group discussions.