Parliamentary Concerns Over Reduced Budget for NASA-ISRO Joint Mission

A parliamentary panel expressed concern over the budget cuts for the NASA-ISRO mission. The mission, deferring to the next financial year, involves sending an Indian astronaut to the ISS. Budget reductions impacted the Gaganyaan program, though the Department of Space assured necessary allocations in the future.

Concerns have been raised by a parliamentary panel over significant budgetary cuts for the joint NASA-ISRO mission poised to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS). The budget slash was communicated to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology.

The Department of Space reported budget reductions at the Revised Estimate (RE) stage for 2024-25, citing mission postponement to the following fiscal year. The cooperation with NASA and Axiom Space stands firm, with financial support expected to follow in later stages.

Despite these financial constraints, the joint mission was originally announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2023 visit to the U.S., with astronaut designates ready for their roles in Axiom Mission 4. Committee members pointed at continued support for space initiatives but voiced concerns about achieving project efficiency given the current funding situation.

(With inputs from agencies.)