US ready to send an Indian to International Space Station next year, says Nasa chief

NEW DELHI: 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.