NASA to Train Indian Astronaut for Voyage to International Space Station
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has announced that NASA will be training an Indian astronaut for a journey to the International Space Station (ISS) as early as next year. This development comes as both India and the United States aim to strengthen their space ties and collaboration.
Nelson made the announcement during his visit to Bengaluru, where he was inspecting the NISAR satellite. This satellite is a joint project between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and is set to be launched from India in the first quarter of next year.
NISAR, a low-Earth orbit observatory system, is approximately the size of an SUV and will provide vital data for comprehending various environmental changes. It has the capability to map the entire planet every 12 days, offering insights into ecosystems, ice mass, vegetation biomass, sea level rise, groundwater, and natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and landslides.
India has outlined an ambitious goal of increasing its share of the global satellite launch market fivefold over the next decade. To further this objective, India joined NASA’s Artemis Accords in June of this year. The Accords seek to clarify and modernize the principles outlined in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. The collaboration between NASA and India through the Accords aims to promote scientific transparency and establish rules of coordination to avoid interference in space and on the moon.
The training of an Indian astronaut by NASA represents a significant milestone in space exploration and scientific cooperation between the two nations. This partnership not only strengthens their relationship but also contributes to the advancement of space technology and research.
With the upcoming launch of NISAR and the training of an Indian astronaut for the ISS, India’s presence and capabilities in space exploration are set to expand. This latest development showcases the country’s dedication to space exploration and its commitment to contributing valuable knowledge and expertise to the global scientific community.
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