India to join US-led Artemis Accords for civil space exploration

India will be joining the Artemis Accords to join the civil space exploration initiative. In addition, the space agencies of both India and the US – Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) and National Aeronautics and Space Authority (Nasa), respectively – agree to a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024.

“Today, we have taken a giant leap in our space cooperation by deciding to join Artemis Accords,” said Prime Minister Modi in a joint press meeting at the White House. PM Modi is on a three-day visit to the US.

The Nasa-led Artemis Accords was initiated in 2020, with seven founding members including the US, UK, and Canada. Before India decided to come on board, the South American country Ecuador became the 26th nation to become a signatory. 

The Artemis Accords is based on the 1967 Outer Space Treaty that lays down a set of principles guiding civil space exploration. This framework details interoperability, access to assistance, use of open standards, and sustainability of the overall mission. All the members of the accord will have to share data, technology, and resources for safe and successful lunar exploration.

PM Modi’s ongoing visit to the US has been quite eventful with signing of multiple deals and projects. The Union Cabinet has shown a green signal to US chipmaker Micron’s $2.75 billion semiconductor testing and packaging unit that will come up in Sanand, Gujarat. 

Another US semiconductor company Applied Materials said that it will invest $400 million over the next four years for building a state-of-the-art engineering centre in India; the decision came after Applied Materials chief Gary Dickerson met PM Modi on Wednesday.