Image Credits - NDTV
In a significant stride for India’s space exploration endeavours, a forthcoming astronaut from the nation is slated to embark on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) this year, as disclosed by U.S. Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, in an exclusive interview with NDTV.
Ambassador Garcetti unveiled that the Indian government has nominated a candidate for the pioneering journey, set to be facilitated through an American mission. While refraining from divulging the astronaut’s identity, he emphasized the enduring partnership between the two nations in space exploration.
Ambassador Garcetti affirmed that the offer made by the President was to include an Indian astronaut on an American mission to the space station this calendar year, and he reiterated that it remains the objective underscoring the collaborative efforts fostering bilateral ties extending “from the seabed to the stars.”
Despite the inherent unpredictability of space endeavours, Ambassador Garcetti expressed confidence in the mission’s realization, alluding to the Indian government’s indication of the chosen astronaut. However, he deferred the official announcement to the appropriate authorities.
Highlighting the broader spectrum of joint space initiatives, Ambassador Garcetti spotlighted the impending launch of NISAR, a pioneering satellite mission resulting from collaboration between NASA and ISRO. NISAR’s groundbreaking technology will utilize dual radar frequencies to meticulously monitor changes in the Earth’s surface, underscoring the scientific significance of international partnerships in space exploration.
NISAR, utilizing both L-band and S-band radar frequencies, is poised to be the inaugural satellite mission measuring minute changes in the Earth’s surface, less than a centimetre in scale. The collaboration with India has been integral in maximizing scientific preservation.