India and the United States are preparing to take their growing space partnership to the Moon.

NASA has invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to participate in its ambitious Moon Base programme, opening a fresh avenue for collaboration in lunar exploration, space science and human spaceflight.

The invitation was extended during the 9th meeting of the India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG), held at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru on August 5 and 6.

The development builds on years of expanding cooperation between the two countries and their partnership under the Artemis Accords, which promote peaceful, sustainable exploration of the Moon and beyond.

From Artemis to a Moon Base

NASA unveiled its Moon Base plans during its “Ignition” event on March 24, 2026, presenting a series of initiatives aimed at advancing US leadership in space.

For India, the invitation could open doors to deeper involvement in the next phase of lunar exploration. According to the US Embassy, both sides also agreed to continue discussions on open scientific data sharing under the Artemis Accords.

The collaboration comes at a particularly exciting time for India-US space cooperation, following the successful launch of NISAR, the joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar mission, last year.

Looking Towards Human Spaceflight

The discussions went beyond the Moon Base. Officials from both countries explored opportunities to expand cooperation in future space science and human spaceflight technologies, potentially bringing their capabilities closer together as both nations look at increasingly ambitious missions.

The meeting was held under the US-India Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technology (TRUST) Initiative, which seeks to deepen cooperation in strategic and emerging technologies. The talks were addressed by Department of Space Secretary V Narayanan and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. The meeting was co-chaired by M Sankaran, director of ISRO’s UR Rao Satellite Centre, along with US officials Wesley Brooks and NASA Associate Administrator Kathleen Karika.

Building a Sustainable Future in Space

The partnership also has a wider dimension. India and the US reaffirmed their commitment to developing guidelines for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities through the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).

As humanity prepares for a future where the Moon could become a hub for scientific exploration and human activity, cooperation will be as important as technological capability.

For India, NASA’s invitation signals something bigger than participation in another space programme. It reflects the country’s growing role in shaping humanity’s next giant leap beyond Earth.