US Envoy Says India and America Are Moving From Space Cooperation to Co-Creation

• US Ambassador Sergio Gor said India-US space ties are shifting from cooperation to co-creation.

• He cited joint work on instruments, startups, data and future human space exploration.

• The envoy highlighted NISAR as an example of technology saving lives through disaster response.

• NASA has invited ISRO to join the Moon base programme, he said.

• Gor urged Indian space startups to tap American markets and investors.

United States Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Monday said India and the US are entering a deeper phase of space partnership, moving beyond traditional cooperation toward what he described as “co-creation” in technology, exploration and commercial innovation.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the ninth edition of the Bengaluru Space Expo, Gor said the relationship between the two countries in space is no longer limited to sharing information or coordinating missions. Instead, he said, India and the United States are now jointly designing instruments, supporting startups and helping shape the next chapter of human discovery.

The Bengaluru Space Expo is being organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry in partnership with ISRO, IN-SPACe and NewSpace India Limited. The event is being held from September 7 to 9 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre.

Gor referred to the ninth US-India Civil Space Joint Working Group, which was recently held in Bengaluru, saying the discussions there confirmed the changing nature of the bilateral space partnership. According to him, the two countries are moving from data-sharing arrangements to joint development, joint financing and shared innovation.

Reflecting on the strengths each side brings to the partnership, Gor said the United States offers deep private capital and a mature commercial space ecosystem. India, he added, contributes world-class engineering capabilities, exceptional scientific talent and a bold startup environment.

Together, he said, these strengths create a powerful combination that can deliver major breakthroughs in space technology and exploration.

The ambassador also pointed to the TRUST initiative, or Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology, saying US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recognised the importance of this technological synergy through the initiative.

Gor said the US is expanding its Commercial Service presence in Bengaluru to create a more direct business corridor between American companies and Indian innovators. He said this would help strengthen commercial linkages and support partnerships between both countries’ private sectors.

He added that cooperation between India and the US now extends across a wide range of areas at levels that were once difficult to imagine. Bilateral trade, he noted, has crossed USD 240 billion, while the two countries are also working closely in pharmaceuticals, technology, defence and other key sectors.

The envoy highlighted NISAR, the joint NASA-ISRO Earth observation satellite, as a strong example of what the two countries can achieve together. He said the mission was not merely a scientific project but a practical tool with life-saving potential.

Referring to a devastating earthquake in Venezuela two months ago, Gor said NISAR’s radar data was able to cut through dense clouds and dust, helping emergency responders identify the affected area more effectively. He described it as an example of joint technology being used to save lives in real time.

Gor also recalled Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s flight to the International Space Station last year, calling it a landmark moment for India that was made possible through American partnership. He said the Axiom-4 mission and five joint scientific investigations have now opened the door to deeper cooperation in areas such as docking standards, system interoperability and astronaut training.

He said the TRUST initiative is helping build capability, and that capability is creating higher ambition for both countries.

The ambassador also emphasised India’s role in future lunar exploration. He noted that India is a signatory to the Artemis Accords and said NASA has formally invited ISRO to participate in the Moon base programme.

Gor said the United States is preparing to return to the Moon and wants India to be alongside it on the lunar surface. His remarks underscored Washington’s interest in making India a major partner in the next phase of human space exploration.

He also praised India’s space sector reforms, saying they have triggered a commercial awakening in the country. Startups are emerging across areas such as Earth observation, launch systems and space situational awareness, he said.

According to Gor, while the Moon may be the long-term destination, the real engine of progress lies in ground-level innovation — in laboratories, startups and commercial markets.

Addressing Indian space entrepreneurs directly, the US envoy said the American market is open to them. He said US investors are watching India’s space sector closely and that American innovation ecosystems are ready to welcome Indian companies.

Gor also said India and the United States are working together on global space governance. This includes coordination on space traffic issues ahead of the World Radiocommunication Conference in Shanghai.

He said Washington and New Delhi are standing together to protect an open, rules-based space order against authoritarian influence. His remarks framed the space partnership not only as a technological and commercial relationship but also as a strategic alignment between democratic nations.

Concluding his address, Gor called on both countries to work together to build a global space economy and return to the Moon as partners. He said that when free nations lead in space, the world looks upward with hope and renewed ambition.