New Delhi, September 2026 : US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Sunday met Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS), and highlighted his mission as a significant example of growing space cooperation between India and the United States.
Gor said Shukla’s journey, which included training with NASA and his role as pilot of Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission, reflected the expanding partnership between the two countries in human spaceflight and advanced space technology.
“Enjoyed meeting Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station. From training at NASA to piloting Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission, his journey showcases US-India space cooperation at its best,” Gor said in a post on X.
The US envoy also met Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in Bengaluru on Sunday and discussed the growing engagement between American and Indian industries in key sectors.
Gor said bilateral ties were gaining momentum in Karnataka, particularly in space technology, artificial intelligence and trade. He pointed to initiatives such as Pax Silica and TRUST as platforms that could create additional opportunities for companies from both countries.
“Great to reconnect with Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar in Bengaluru. US-India ties are gaining momentum in Karnataka across space technology, AI, and trade,” Gor said, adding that such initiatives were helping create opportunities for American and Indian businesses.
The ambassador’s comments come amid broader efforts to deepen strategic and industrial cooperation between India and the US, particularly in the defence and high-technology sectors.
Last week, Gor described the proposed co-production of the Javelin All Up Round (AUR) in India as a “major step forward” for the bilateral defence partnership. The project involves Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV), formed by Raytheon, an RTX business, and Lockheed Martin.
According to Lockheed Martin, TASL has been selected as the JJV’s prime partner for future in-country co-production efforts after an evaluation of multiple Indian companies based on their capabilities and expertise.
Gor said the collaboration would create new opportunities for US companies, strengthen the American defence-industrial base and enhance India’s domestic manufacturing capabilities.
The developments underline the widening scope of India-US cooperation, spanning human spaceflight, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, trade and defence production. Shukla’s ISS mission, meanwhile, has emerged as a prominent symbol of the two countries’ growing collaboration in space exploration and technology.
