Washington: US President Joe Biden said on Thursday after meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India and the US are forging an alliance to send Indian astronauts to the International Space Station by 2024. After bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi, Biden said that India and America are collaborating in almost every humanitarian endeavor for development together.
Biden said, “From alliances in creating new ways to test and treat diseases like cancer, diabetes, to manned space flight and sending Indian astronauts to the International Space Station by 2024, etc.” At the same time, regarding the announcement of India’s decision to join the Artemis Treaty, Modi said that we have taken a new step forward in space cooperation. He said that the possibilities of collaboration between India and America are limitless.
The Artemis Treaty, based on the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, is a set of non-binding principles designed to guide civilian space exploration. It is a US-led effort to return humans to the Moon by 2025, with the goal of exploring space to Mars and other planets. At the same time, India is planning to send the first manned spacecraft ‘Gaganyaan’ which may be in late 2024 or early 2025.
Earlier, a White House official had said that NASA and ISRO are developing a strategic framework for manned space flight this year. In the field of semiconductors, American companies are tying up to build semiconductor systems in India.
American chip maker Micron Technology said in a statement that Micron will set up a semiconductor test and assembly plant in Gujarat with a total investment of $2.75 billion. Micron said it would invest $825 million on its part in this plant to be developed in two phases. The remaining amount will be invested by the central and state governments.
At the same time, American Applied Materials announced the establishment of a new semiconductor center for commercialization and innovation in India. The official said the two countries talked about expanding cooperation in advanced computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum information science. The two also signed a new compliance arrangement on artificial intelligence, advanced wireless, and quantum technology. In the field of advanced technology, both countries are working on 5G and 6G technology.
