• Source:PTI
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In the area of space exploration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden, in their joint statement following the bilateral talks on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi stated that they have started discussions to establish a strategic framework for human space flight by the end of the year, to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024.

The US President also congratulated PM Modi on the historic landing of Chandrayaan-3 at the south polar region of the Moon and the success of its maiden solar mission, Aditya-L1.

Biden headed to PM Modi's official residence at the Lok Kalyan Marg soon after he arrived at the airport for the G20 Summit in Delhi.

"Determined to deepen our partnership in outer space exploration, ISRO and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have commenced discussions on modalities, capacity building, and training for mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024, and are continuing efforts to finalise a strategic framework for human space flight cooperation by the end of 2023," the White House said from the Joint statement following the 52-minute talks between the two leaders.

During PM Modi’s first state visit to the US earlier in June this year, Biden announced that both India and the US were working together to send an astronaut to the international space station in 2024.

"India and the United States also intend to increase coordination on planetary defence to protect planet Earth and space assets from the impact of asteroids and near-Earth objects, including US support for India's participation in asteroid detection and tracking via the Minor Planet Center, the joint statement further said.

The US also reiterated its commitment to collaborating with India in the quantum domain, both bilaterally and through the Quantum Entanglement Exchange, a platform that facilitates worldwide quantum exchange opportunities, as reported by news agency PTI.

The International Space Station (ISS) was launched in November 1998 and is one of two modular space stations in Lower Earth Orbit (LEO), the other being China's Tiangong Space Station (TSS).