India has once again achieved a new milestone at the global level in the field of space research. US space agency NASA has officially invited India to join its largest and most ambitious Moon Base programme. The main objective of this historic initiative is to create the first permanent outpost of humans on the surface of the Moon, in which India can now become an important partner of America. A big announcement came in the high-level meeting held in Bengaluru. This big proposal was given during the 9th India-US Space Joint Working Group meeting held on 5th and 6th August at the headquarters of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in Bengaluru. This is being considered as the biggest and new chapter of space cooperation between India and America during the second term of President Donald Trump. This announcement has come at a time when India has become one of the leading space powers in the world. Following the historic success of Chandrayaan-3, the US space agency NASA is keen to work closely with ISRO in a strategic area that is vital for the future of space exploration. What is NASA's Moon Base Program and India's role? This Moon Base program being prepared by NASA will actually be a place near the South Pole of the Moon where astronauts will live and do scientific research and work. This base will be developed through several manned and unmanned missions to create the necessary infrastructure for long-term human settlements or activities on the lunar surface. India's role in this mission is most special because India is the only country which has made a successful soft landing of its spacecraft on the south pole of the Moon. In August 2023, Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander and Pragyan rover created history by landing on the most inaccessible area of the Moon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had named this landing site 'Shiv Shakti Point', which is today a symbol of India's scientific power on the moon. The real objective of this Moon Base Mission is not just to set foot on the Moon, but to stay there for a long time, learn to use local resources, develop new technologies and prepare to send human missions to Mars in the future. This entire proposed cooperation is based on the foundation of the 'Artemis Accords', which India signed on 21 June 2023, becoming the 27th country to sign this agreement. Now after this new revelation, India's position in the space race has become stronger.
