India, a global power with autonomous space access, should join Artemis, according to a senior NASA official. Based on the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, the Artemis Accords are non-binding guidelines for civil space research and utilization in the twenty-first century.
The goal of the US-led Lunar Accords is to return humans to the moon by 2025 for Mars and beyond exploration. According to NASA assistant administrator for technology, policy, and strategy Bhavya Lal, signing the Artemis Accords should be a top priority for India.
She emphasized India’s global influence, autonomous space access, thriving rocket industry, and lunar and Mars expeditions. Joining the Artemis crew would position India as a key space player and demonstrate its commitment to cooperative development, responsible space utilization, and sustainable exploration. Prioritize India’s participation in the Artemis Accords.
India is a worldwide leader : NASA
NASA considers India to be a global authority. “It’s one of the few countries with independent space access, has a thriving launch industry, and has been to the moon and Mars, so it needs to be part of the Artemis team,” she added.
Lal, who was born in Mathura and reared in New Delhi, emphasized the need for increased US-India collaboration in the Artemis program, specifically in lunar operations. She anticipated that a working committee on human space travel would lead to collaboration.
Lal is enthusiastic about NISAR, Chandrayaan 3, and India’s program for human space exploration. Recent India-US space interactions have been outstanding, according to Lal, with India demonstrating to be a capable partner.
She spoke about India’s proposed space station and their collaboration in human space travel, research missions, lunar exploration, and planetary security.
Lal also indicated that Indian private companies could collaborate with NASA’s commercial lunar payload services and American businesses. All nations should work together to protect the planet from asteroids and comets. Lal mentioned the Dart initiative by NASA as a countermeasure.
She spoke about coming to the United States as an undergraduate and overcoming cultural barriers, highlighting her passion for space exploration and nuclear engineering. High-ranking NASA official Bhavya Lal believes that India, as a global power with independent space access, should join the Artemis mission.
Collaboration could assist India in becoming a global space power and promote responsible, sustainable exploration. Lal lauded India’s planned missions and human space flight program, and he emphasized the need for increased US-India cooperation in space exploration.
