OSC Joins India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group, Advances Commercial Space Cooperation

The Office of Space Commerce, represented by Senior International Affairs Specialist Rose Croshier, joined the United States Government delegation at the India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG), hosted by India on August 5-6, 2026, at the Indian Space Research Organization headquarters in Bengaluru.

As part of the meeting deliberations, OSC, along with American and Indian counterparts, reviewed the working group’s accomplishments between 2023 – 2026. Together, the delegations identified topics for continued expert exchanges through 2027.

OSC, as Co-Chair of the CSJWG Commercial Space Sub-working Group, reflected on the 2024 and 2026 US-India Space Business Forums, 2026 Trade Mission to India, and the 1st US-India SSA Workshop, as well as the establishment of terms of reference for export control, government procurement, regulatory regimes, and launch of the TRUST Initiative.

Read more on the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India webpage.

Read the Statement:

The 9th meeting of the India-U.S. Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG) was hosted by India on 5-6 August 2026 at the headquarters of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Bengaluru. 

Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO/ Secretary, Department of Space and H.E. Sergio Gor, the U.S. Ambassador to India addressed the opening segment and highlighted the significance of further strengthening the bilateral space cooperation.  The meeting was co-chaired on the Indian side by Mr. M. Sankaran, Director, UR Rao Satellite Centre, ISRO and on the U.S. side by Dr. Wesley Brooks, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs and Ms. Kathleen Karika, NASA Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations. 

The meeting advanced civil and commercial space cooperation under the U.S.-India Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology (TRUST) Initiative, in line with the February 2025 Joint Leaders’ Statement issued by Prime Minister Modi and President Trump. 

Both sides discussed expanding cooperation following the successful launch of the joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission last year, as well as pursuing future science and human space flight technology collaborations.  They reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) guidelines on the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, as well as reviewed ongoing multilateral efforts for ensuring the Committee’s effectiveness. 

NASA invited ISRO to join its Moon Base program, building on the two countries’ partnership under the Artemis Accords.  The two sides also agreed to advance discussions for cooperation on open scientific data sharing under the Accords.