The National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Indian Space Research Organisation have shelved plans to train an Indian astronaut at NASA to be part of a manned mission of the American space shuttle.
During Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to USA in 2005, it was agreed that India would bear the training costs of its astronaut who would be flown by NASA.
The American space agency is restricting the number of flights and would undertake only those necessary for completing the International Space Station, NASA administator Michael Griffin said at a press conference in Bangalore on Tuesday.
A total of 17 flights are planned, for which international agreements already exist, he said adding, no seats are available for the next four years.
"That being the case, ISRO has decided not to invest in training at this time, but wait for a later opportunity," Griffin said.
ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair said the Indian space agency has not really made up its mind on the issue of a manned mission.
"There are questions with reference to the capability of robotic missions accomplishing the set objectives. We are going through a process of evaluation. It will take a year or so before we can arrive at a decision on whether we can have a manned mission at all," he said.
"If such a requirement comes, we will definitely make use of the opportunity which will be available," he added.
