New Delhi: Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, announced on Sunday that an Indian astronaut from the ‘Gaganyaan’ mission will join the International Space Station (ISS), a key milestone in Indo-US space collaboration.
The minister, who presided over a vital bilateral meeting on US-India Civil Nuclear Commerce in the national capital, emphasised the two countries’ growing cooperation in critical areas such as research, technology, and clean energy.
John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President on International Climate Policy, and David Turk, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy, led the high-level US delegation.
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Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to expanding their cooperation in emerging technologies, citing common interests in boosting economic growth, national security, and global technical leadership.
Dr Singh underlined the importance of collaboration in ensuring global supply chains, particularly in sectors such as semiconductors, medicines, and renewable energy technologies, which are becoming increasingly important in today’s interconnected world.
The minister also highlighted the Green Hydrogen Mission as a key component of India’s strategy to decarbonise heavy industry, transportation and power generation.
“Through robust policy frameworks and international collaborations, India is poised to lead the transition to a sustainable and resilient energy future,” the minister told the US delegation.
The Centre is also looking into international collaborations, investing in R&D, and examining regulatory frameworks to assist the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs).
According to the minister, SMRs will play an important role in India’s clean energy transition, promoting energy self-reliance and satisfying climate obligations.
Dr AK Sood, the government’s principal scientific advisor, emphasised the importance of Indo-US cooperation, adding that it is about co-creating solutions that will influence the future rather than simply transferring knowledge.
He underlined the collaboration’s potential to open up new avenues for sustainable development and economic growth.
The first Indian in Space
On 3 April 1984, Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to orbit in space. It was a joint Indo-Soviet Space Mission. In a memorable exchange with Indira Gandhi from his spacecraft, Rakesh Sharma described how India looked from space by stating, “Sare Jahaan se Achha” (Better than the rest of the world).
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–IANS
