India’s astronaut candidates training for Gaganyaan, the country’s inaugural human spaceflight mission, may have the opportunity to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) on a joint India-US mission next year. The schedule for Gaganyaan remains uncertain, so the recently announced joint mission to the ISS could be a chance for the astronauts who have been training for three years to make their journey sooner.
During Prime Minister Modi’s visit, it was revealed that NASA will provide “advanced training” to Indian astronauts at one of its facilities. The joint statement from Modi and US President also mentioned that NASA will offer advanced training to Indian astronauts at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, with the goal of a joint mission to the ISS in 2024.
The four selected astronauts, who have been training for the Gaganyaan flight since early 2020, have already undergone training in Russia. However, the Gaganyaan launch, originally planned for 2022, has been postponed due to the pandemic. The ISRO chairman hinted that the mission could be delayed further from its current 2024 schedule.
The joint mission to the ISS, scheduled for 2024, may happen before Gaganyaan. NASA regularly sends astronauts to the ISS, so the Indian astronauts, who are already trained, may only require a few weeks of advanced training at NASA facilities.
In addition to the joint mission, the statement mentioned that NASA and ISRO will work on a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation by the end of the year. This indicates a long-term partnership between the two space agencies, focusing on human spaceflight missions and enhanced commercial collaboration.
By signing the Artemis Accords, India is taking a significant step towards deep space exploration and human spaceflight missions. The Accords, which promote peaceful and cooperative space exploration, align with NASA’s Artemis program. India and the US have a strong partnership in the space sector, with collaborative projects like the NISAR satellite.
Minister Jitendra Singh stated that the Artemis Accords make India an equal partner in the space sector, with plans to send an Indian astronaut to the ISS in 2024. The collaboration will not have significant financial implications, and India’s Gaganyaan mission will run separately from the ISS mission.
As the India-US collaboration in space continues, future batches of Indian astronauts may receive training in the US. The Minister emphasized the importance of maintaining relationships with both Russia and the US in space exploration. The Artemis Accords will also extend to private players utilizing resources on the moon to ensure no harmful interference.
