NASA announced plans to build a permanent lunar base and invited India's space agency, ISRO, to collaborate on the project.
This partnership marks a strategic shift in the Artemis program, aiming to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon to advance scientific research and maintain leadership in lunar exploration.
As part of the expansion, NASA awarded nearly $600 million [1] for four [2] commercial Moon-landing missions. These missions are currently targeted for a launch window in late 2028 [3]. The commercial landers will support the broader goal of creating a functional habitat in the Moon's south-pole region.
NASA's invitation to ISRO follows India's success with the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which achieved a historic south-pole landing in August 2023 [4]. The agency views India's proven capability in the south-pole region as a critical asset for the construction of the first lunar base.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the inspirational nature of the current era of space exploration. "People are looking up again, believing in big things again," Nelson said.
The collaboration between the U.S. and India is designed to share the technical and financial burdens of lunar habitation. By integrating ISRO's expertise with NASA's infrastructure, the Artemis program seeks to create a permanent outpost that can serve as a stepping stone for further deep-space missions.
“NASA awarded nearly $600 million for four commercial Moon-landing missions.”
The inclusion of ISRO in the Artemis program signals a move toward a multilateral lunar economy. By leveraging India's specific success at the lunar south pole, NASA is reducing the technical risk of establishing a permanent base while creating a strategic alliance to counter other global lunar ambitions.
