New Delhi, Aug 11 (HS): The 9th meeting of the India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG) was held on August 5-6 at the headquarters of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Bengaluru, with both sides discussing ways to expand bilateral cooperation in civil and commercial space activities.

ISRO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space, Dr V. Narayanan, and U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor addressed the opening session and highlighted the importance of further strengthening India-U.S. cooperation in the space sector.

The meeting was co-chaired by M. Sankaran, Director, UR Rao Satellite Centre, ISRO, from the Indian side, and Dr Wesley Brooks, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, and Kathleen Karika, NASA Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations, from the US side.

The discussions focused on advancing civil and commercial space cooperation under the U.S.-India Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology (TRUST) Initiative, in line with the February 2025 Joint Leaders' Statement issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.

Both sides discussed expanding cooperation following the successful launch of the joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission last year. They also explored future collaboration in space science and human spaceflight technologies.

India and the US reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) guidelines on the long-term sustainability of outer space activities. They also reviewed ongoing multilateral efforts aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of the committee.

As part of the discussions, NASA invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme, building on the two countries' partnership under the Artemis Accords.

The two sides also agreed to advance discussions on cooperation in sharing open scientific data under the Artemis Accords.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar