# NASA and ISRO collaborate on lunar exploration

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/nasa-lunar-exploration-and-colonization-efforts
> Updated: 2026-09-07T07:07:00.000Z. Sources: 27. Developments: 3.

NASA has officially invited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to participate in its Moon Base programme, an initiative aimed at establishing a permanent human presence near the lunar South Pole. This invitation was formalized during the 9th India-US Civil Space Joint Working Group meeting in Bengaluru in August 2026. The partnership builds on the Artemis Accords and the US-India TRUST initiative, following the successful 2025 launch of the joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission.

U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, speaking at the Bengaluru Space Expo 2026, emphasized that the United States intends to have India “by its side on the lunar surface” during upcoming missions. Gor also highlighted the growing interest of U.S. investors in Indian space startups, such as Pixxel, Skyroot Aerospace, and Agnikul Cosmos.

The Moon Base project is planned in phases, with an initial stage projected to cost approximately $10 billion through 2028. Early efforts will utilize robotic missions to test infrastructure. The lunar South Pole remains the primary focus for colonization due to water ice in permanently shadowed craters, which can be processed into drinking water, oxygen, and fuel for deep-space missions. NASA and SpaceX are targeting this region to leverage both areas of prolonged sunlight for solar energy and shadowed areas to preserve volatiles. NASA also plans to utilize nuclear reactors for electricity and intends to conduct two crewed missions via the Artemis program by 2028 to investigate these resources.

## Claims

- Jacob Bleacher stated that the lunar south pole offers usable resources because the Sun skims the horizon rather than fully rising or setting. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The lunar south pole contains craters in permanent shadow that likely preserve water ice. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Water ice can be used to generate oxygen and fuel for space travel. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- NASA plans to establish a lunar base at the south pole featuring a nuclear reactor for constant electricity. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- NASA's Artemis program intends to send two crewed missions to the Moon in 2028. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The lunar south pole is divided into zones of prolonged illumination and permanent shadow. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-07: NASA invites ISRO to join lunar base program

U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor announced that NASA has officially invited ISRO to join its lunar base program, strengthening space cooperation and opportunities for Indian space startups.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nasa-invites-isro-to-join-lunar-base-program

### 2026-08-14: Lunar south pole becomes focal point for space colonization

NASA and SpaceX are targeting the Moon's south pole for colonization, aiming to utilize water ice for oxygen and fuel during upcoming missions like the Artemis program.

8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lunar-south-pole-becomes-focal-point-for-space-colonization

### 2026-08-11: NASA invites ISRO to join Moon Base programme

NASA has invited ISRO to join its Moon Base programme to establish a permanent lunar habitat near the South Pole, deepening US-India space cooperation under the Artemis Accords.

17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nasa-invites-isro-to-join-moon-base-programme

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Cite as: NASA and ISRO collaborate on lunar exploration. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/nasa-lunar-exploration-and-colonization-efforts