US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti announced on Friday that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will soon begin training Indian astronauts as part of the collaborative effort with the International Space Station (ISS). Garcetti also stated that the US plans to send an Indian astronaut to the ISS by the end of this year.
Referring to the US’s commitment to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 2023 visit to the US, Garcetti affirmed that the mission to send an Indian astronaut to the ISS is progressing as planned.
“We promised when PM (Narendra) Modi came (to the US in 2023) that by the end of this year, we will do this and our mission is still on track to be able to go in space this year,” PTI quoted the US envoy.
Garcetti provided an update on the joint India-US space project, NISAR, an Earth-observing mission between NASA and ISRO. He announced that the NISAR project is set to launch by the end of the year.
Speaking at the “US-India Commercial Space Conference: Unlocking Opportunities for US & Indian Space Startups” in Bangalore, Garcetti mentioned that NASA will commence advanced training for Indian astronauts this year or next to support the joint mission to the ISS. He also praised the Indian space agency’s efficiency, highlighting the cost-effective landing of ‘Chandrayaan-3’ on the Moon last year.
Additionally, Garcetti discussed the potential advancement of nuclear reactor projects in Mithi Virdi, Gujarat, and Kovvada, Andhra Pradesh, after the Lok Sabha Elections in 2024. He noted that the companies involved in building these reactors have raised concerns about the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010, which mandates prompt compensation for victims of nuclear incidents under a no-fault liability regime.
