US confirms sending Indian astronaut to ISS by 2024-end
The United States has officially confirmed its plans to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) by the end of 2024. This commitment was made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US in 2023. "We are going to put an Indian astronaut into the International Space Station this year," stated Eric Garcetti, US Ambassador to India, during the 248th Independence Day celebrations of the US.
US-India collaboration in space exploration
Garcetti also emphasized the ongoing collaboration between the US and India in space exploration. He revealed that the NISAR project, a joint initiative between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is expected to be launched by year-end. This project aims to enhance Earth observation capabilities, further strengthening the partnership between these two nations in space research.
India's unique space capabilities acknowledged
Garcetti has underscored the importance of India and the US coordinating their efforts in research as well as emerging technologies. He noted India's cost-effective Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission and acknowledged that each country possesses unique capacities. "The US has some capacities that India still doesn't have today. When the two are combined, both countries have those capacities," he said.
Partnering for civilian nuclear energy
Garcetti also touched upon the collaboration between the US and Indian governments in terms of civilian nuclear energy, which is set to advance post-elections. Two sites in India — Mithi Virdhi in Gujarat and Kovadda in Andhra Pradesh—have been identified for US firms to establish nuclear reactors. However, concerns have been raised regarding India's Civil Liability Nuclear Damage Act 2010, which governs compensation in case of a nuclear incident.
