India’s space programme is entering a new phase of international cooperation after NASA invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to participate in its planned Moon Base programme. The proposal was discussed during the ninth India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting in Bengaluru and builds on the growing partnership between the two countries in civil and commercial space activities.
The proposed Moon Base is intended to support a sustained human presence on the lunar surface through a combination of robotic and crewed missions. For India, participation could offer access to international expertise and provide opportunities to contribute scientific capabilities and technologies to a major long-term lunar exploration effort.
However, the proposal also creates a strategic dilemma for New Delhi. India has built its space capabilities around a strong emphasis on indigenous development and independent decision-making. Greater involvement in a U.S.-led lunar architecture could require India to carefully assess how such cooperation affects its freedom to pursue independent technological and scientific priorities.
The Artemis Accords form an important part of this discussion. India became a signatory to the U.S.-led framework in 2023. Although the Accords are voluntary and non-binding, concerns have been raised about the development of lunar exploration principles outside the formal United Nations negotiating process. In particular, questions surrounding space-resource activities could become increasingly important as nations prepare for more sustained lunar operations.
India’s relationship with the United Nations framework for peaceful space activities is another factor. The UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) remains a major multilateral forum for developing principles governing outer-space activities. New Delhi may therefore need to ensure that deeper cooperation under the Artemis framework does not reduce the importance of broader multilateral mechanisms.
Lunar resources could add another layer to the strategic debate. The Moon’s South Pole is considered particularly important because of the potential presence of water ice and areas with favourable lighting conditions. As exploration moves towards long-term habitation and resource utilisation, rules governing access, extraction and operational zones could become increasingly significant for future space powers.
There is also a wider geopolitical dimension. The Moon is becoming an area of increasing competition and cooperation among major space powers. India’s participation in the U.S.-led programme could strengthen its strategic relationship with Washington, while New Delhi would still need to maintain sufficient flexibility in its wider international space partnerships.
At present, the precise role India would play in the Moon Base programme remains under discussion. This means the final technical, financial and operational responsibilities have yet to be established.
For India, the decision will ultimately involve balancing the benefits of advanced international cooperation with the need to protect strategic autonomy and long-term national interests. As lunar exploration moves from individual missions towards sustained human activity, how India manages this balance could shape its position in the next era of global space exploration.
