'US to send Indian astronaut to International Space Station by year-end'

The United States will send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) by the end of the year, US envoy to India Eric Garcetti announced on Wednesday.

He also mentioned that the NISAR project, a joint Earth-observing mission between NASA and ISRO, is expected to launch by the year's end.

“We are going to put an Indian astronaut into the International Space Station this year. We promised when PM Modi came (to the US in 2023) that by the end of this year, we will do this, and our mission is still on track to be able to go into space this year,” Garcetti said.

The ambassador spoke on the sidelines of an event celebrating the upcoming 248th Independence Day of the United States. He emphasised the importance of India and the US coordinating research and critical emerging technology to leverage each other's strengths.

Garcetti noted that India landed ‘Chandrayaan 3' on the Moon last year at a fraction of the cost that the US spent on a similar lunar mission. “The US has some capacities that India still doesn't have today. When the two are combined, both countries have those capacities,” he said.

Regarding civilian nuclear energy, Garcetti expressed hope that the Indian government could address outstanding liability issues after the elections, allowing for progress “arm in arm and hand in hand.”

Two sites in India – Mithi Virdhi in Gujarat and Kovadda in Andhra Pradesh – have been designated for US companies to build nuclear reactors.

However, concerns remain over the Civil Liability Nuclear Damage Act 2010, which ensures prompt compensation for victims of nuclear incidents through a no-fault liability regime.

(PTI)