US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, announced plans to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) by the end of this year. Speaking at an event marking the 248th Independence Day of the United States, Garcetti revealed that the mission is on track to fulfil the commitment made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US in 2023.
Garcetti also mentioned the NISAR project, a collaborative Earth-observing mission between NASA and ISRO, slated for launch by year-end. He emphasized the importance of India-US coordination in research and emerging technology to leverage each other’s strengths.
Highlighting India’s achievements in space exploration, Garcetti praised the successful landing of ‘Chandrayaan 3′ on the Moon last year at a fraction of the cost incurred by the US for a similar mission. He highlighted how both countries’ strengths complement each other, suggesting that working together boosts their capabilities.
Addressing concerns in the civilian nuclear energy sector, Garcetti expressed optimism about resolving liability issues post-elections in India. Two sites, Mithi Virdhi in Gujarat and Kovadda in Andhra Pradesh, have been designated for US companies to construct nuclear reactors. However, concerns have been raised regarding the Civil Liability Nuclear Damage Act 2010, which mandates prompt compensation for nuclear incident victims under a no-fault liability regime.
The ambassador’s remarks underscored the growing partnership between India and the US in space exploration and civilian nuclear energy, signalling prospects for enhanced collaboration in critical sectors.
