NASA Chief Express Readiness to Collaborate with ISRO to Build Space Station
The administrator of the US Space Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Bill Nelson, announced during his visit to India that the US is willing to assist in constructing India's own space station. He also shared that India and the US have plans to send an astronaut to the International Space Station by the end of 2024.
Responding to a media query, Nelson stated that the US is ready to collaborate with India in building the space station it wants. He told the media, "We expect by that time to have a commercial space station. I think India wants to have a commercial space station by 2040. If India wants us to collaborate with them, of course, we will be available. But that's up to India".
Nelson urged Singh to speed up the programme for sending India's first astronaut aboard a NASA rocket to the International Space Station. As for training an astronaut, Nelson told the media, "The selection of astronaut is determined by ISRO. NASA will not make the selection". Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked ISRO to aim to build an Indian space station by 2035 and send astronauts to the moon by 2040.
NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are planning to launch a joint venture satellite called NISAR in the first quarter of 2024. The satellite will collect data to study land ecosystems, solid earth deformation, mountain and polar cryosphere, sea ice and coastal oceans on a regional and global scale. This state-of-the-art satellite aims to provide valuable insights into the Earth's complex systems and environments. In a post, Nelson wrote, "Touchdown in India! Ready to embark on a week of engaging meetings and events to grow NASA's partnership with ISRO. India is a leader in space, and we're looking forward to a productive visit".
Nelson also met with Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh to discuss cooperation between the two countries in the space sector. As per an official statement from the science and technology ministry, "ISRO is also exploring the feasibility of utilizing NASA's Hypervelocity Impact Test (HVIT) facility for testing Gaganyaan module Micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) protection shields".
