The first space travel by an Indian citizen after Rakesh Sharma’s pioneering journey in 1984 is likely to take place as early as next year. The US will help train and send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station by the end of 2024, Nasa administrator Bill Nelson announced here on Tuesday.

“The selection of the astronaut will be done by Isro, Nasa won’t be a part of it.

Details of the mission are being worked out by Isro,” said Nelson, who is on a multi-city visit of India to enhance Indo-US space cooperation.

“India is a great partner for the US and also a great future partner for activities of astronauts in space. The US will launch several private landers on the south pole of the Moon next year. But the fact that India was the first to land there deserves congratulation,” the Nasa chief said.

Nelson led a high-level US delegation that called on space minister Jitendra Singh and congratulated him for the Chandrayaan-3 landing.

The first space travel by an Indian citizen after Rakesh Sharma’s pioneering journey in 1984 is likely to take place next year. The US will help train and send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station by the end of 2024. The selection of the astronaut will be done by Isro. India is a great partner for the US and also a great future partner for activities of astronauts in space. Nasa chief congratulated space minister Jitendra Singh for the Chandrayaan-3 landing.

Next year, an Indian citizen will become the first to travel to space since Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 journey. The US will assist in training and sending an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) by 2024. The selection process will be conducted by Isro, and the mission details are currently being worked out. Nasa is also prepared to collaborate with India on building its own space station and planning an interplanetary mission. Additionally, the Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, worth nearly $1 billion, will be launched next year.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stated that the United States is willing to work with India to construct its own space station. India and the US are working on plans to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station by the end of next year. The selection of the astronaut will be determined by ISRO, not NASA. The US is also ready to collaborate with India in building the space station if desired. Nelson is visiting India to meet with government officials and business leaders in the space sector, as well as to visit ISRO headquarters and meet Indian astronaut Rakesh Sharma.

Source: Times of India
--Agencies