America ready to help India build its space station: NASA chief

New Delhi, America is ready to help India build its own space station. NASA chief Bill Nelson, who is on his first visit to India, said this on Tuesday.

Nelson’s visit will mark a series of strategic discussions aimed at strengthening the partnership between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

Nelson wrote in a post on X: “Touchdown in India! Looking forward to a week of exciting meetings and events to enhance @NASA’s partnership with @ISRO. India is a leader in space and we are looking forward to a meaningful journey.”

Speaking to the media, he congratulated India for landing on the Moon’s south pole and said that “the US will send a private lander to the south pole in 2024, but India has already done so.”

He said India is a great partner for NASA and the US space agency will help India’s vision of building its own space station by 2040.

Nelson said, “Commercial space stations can open many avenues for research, including pharma research in zero gravity. If India wants, we can cooperate and share our experience.”

Nelson is expected to visit the NISAR spacecraft facilities in Bengaluru which is the first collaboration initiative between NASA and ISTO on hardware development for Earth observation missions.

NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar), to be launched in 2024, is important for understanding various aspects of Earth’s ecosystems, natural hazards and climate change.

NASA will also train an Indian astronaut to fly to the International Space Station in 2024.

The NASA chief is also expected to meet Indian private companies working in the space sector, students and discuss STEM to inspire the next generation of space explorers, known as the Artemis Generation.