June 20 :
On June 20th, in Washington DC: Bill Nelson, administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), stated that the US space agency is likewise striving to further the iCET programme between India and the US, and that the two countries are increasing their space cooperation. Using the International Space Station as a base, he said that the nations are collaborating with an ISRO astronaut. Following up on last year's trip to India, NASA is working to further the US-India collaboration on Critical and Emerging Technology for the greater good of mankind. Collaborating with an ISRO astronaut on the International Space Station is just the next step in our nations' growing space cooperation. "These efforts will support future human spaceflight and improve life here on Earth," Nelson said on the social networking platform 'X' on Thursday, adding that precise specifics regarding the trip are still in the works.
Last year, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson had a plethora of meetings and engagements during his visit to India. He went on to praise India for the mission's success with Chandrayaan-3. On Tuesday, the nation's capital played host to the second conference of the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), a joint effort between the two countries. Both US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were present during the conference. Importantly, the two nations have agreed to begin advanced training for ISRO astronauts at NASA's Johnson orbit Centre and have finalised the Strategic Framework for Human Spaceflight Cooperation to increase interoperability in orbit.
As far as space exploration and the India-US space relationship are concerned, this marks a watershed moment, as it is the first time astronauts from both organisations have worked together aboard the International Space Station. Two Indians will be trained by NASA to become astronauts; one of them will go to the ISS later this year. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is expected to choose four astronauts for training, according to ISRO chairman S. Somanath.
Jointly constructed by NASA and ISRO, the Synthetic Aperture Radar will map the whole Earth's surface twice every 12 days. The launch of this satellite is part of the two nations' combined efforts to address climate change and other global concerns. Potential participation in the Lunar Gateway Programme is being considered by both India and the United States. The Lunar Gateway is an impressive step forward in human space travel because it provides a flexible platform for trips to the lunar surface, research, and future deep-space missions led by the United States.
The NISAR radar imaging satellite will employ dual frequencies before any other satellite. Every 12 days, the mission will conduct a survey of the whole Earth, including all land and ice surfaces. It is valid for three years. The primary objective of the NISAR satellite is to monitor the planet's most intricate natural phenomena, such as alterations to ecosystems, melting ice sheets, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and earthquakes.
