NASA has formally invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to join its Moon Base programme, deepening the growing space partnership between India and the United States.

The invitation was announced by the US Embassy in India after the ninth India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting, held at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru on August 5 and 6. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor confirmed the development in a post on X, saying it would deepen the two countries’ deep-space partnership.

The meeting was opened by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan and Ambassador Gor. Officials from both sides discussed expanding cooperation after the successful launch of the joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission last year, along with future work in science and human spaceflight technology.

The invitation builds on the Artemis Accords, the US-led framework for responsible Moon exploration, which India signed in June 2023. Both sides also agreed to advance talks on sharing scientific data openly under the Accords.

NASA’s Moon Base programme aims to set up a long-term outpost near the lunar south pole through robotic and crewed missions. The invitation is the latest sign of closer space ties between New Delhi and Washington.