Joint Chandrayaan-5 lunar mission-India and Japan have formally agreed.

joint Chandrayaan-5 lunar mission:India and Japan have formally agreed on a joint lunar mission called Chandrayaan-5, also known as the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission, aiming to explore the Moon’s south pole. The partnership was officially signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan in August 2025 between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Key Features of Chandrayaan-5 (LUPEX) Mission:

• The mission targets the Moon’s south pole, specifically the Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs) where volatile compounds like water ice may be present.
• JAXA will launch the mission using its H3-24L rocket.
• The spacecraft will carry an Indian-made lunar lander equipped with a Japanese rover designed to navigate the harsh lunar polar terrain.
• ISRO will also contribute several scientific instruments to conduct in-situ analysis of lunar surface and subsurface volatiles.
• The mission will enable scientific breakthroughs in understanding lunar resources, aiding future human space exploration and sustainable lunar bases.

Strategic and Scientific Importance:

• This collaboration represents a deepening of India-Japan space cooperation, bringing together India’s space prowess and Japan’s advanced rover technology.
• It promotes industrial cooperation, innovation in space technology, and startups in the space ecosystem of both countries.
• The joint mission exemplifies peaceful and scientific space exploration aligning with global space diplomacy.

Prime Minister Modi described the mission as a significant advance in “the next edition of the Chandrayaan series,” highlighting its contribution to human knowledge and future space exploration.