In a landmark moment for global space cooperation, India and Japan have formally signed an implementing arrangement to jointly explore the Moon’s south pole under the ambitious Chandrayaan-5 mission.
The agreement, inked between the Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency ( JAXA), was announced on Saturday during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Japan.
Chandrayaan-5 Mission Objective
The mission, also referred to as the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) Mission, will see the two nations pool their expertise to study volatile materials on the lunar surface.
At the heart of the mission lies the search for water and other elements preserved in the Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs) of the Moon’s south pole, areas that remain untouched by sunlight and may hold vital clues for future human space exploration.
Chandrayaan-5 Mission Design
Under the arrangement, the mission will be launched aboard JAXA’s H3-24L rocket. The spacecraft will carry an ISRO-developed lunar lander, which in turn will deploy a Japan-built rover designed to navigate the harsh polar terrain.
Beyond its engineering role, ISRO will also contribute several scientific instruments to enable in-situ analysis of volatile compounds in the region.
This collaboration is expected to provide groundbreaking insights into the Moon’s polar environment, paving the way for technologies and knowledge that could underpin sustainable lunar bases in the future.
Modi’s Vision for Space Cooperation
Speaking to The Yomiuri Shimbun, Prime Minister Modi described the mission as the “next edition of the Chandrayaan series”, highlighting its importance in deepening our knowledge of the Moon’s most mysterious regions.
“This will contribute to deepening our understanding of the permanently shadowed regions at the lunar south pole. Our collaboration between ISRO and JAXA is fostering innovation that flows both ways, from labs to launch pads, from research to real-world applications,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister further emphasised that government-to-government (G2G) collaboration between India and Japan in the space sector was also cultivating a culture of partnership among industries and start-ups. This, he noted, was laying the foundation for an ecosystem of innovation with benefits that extend far beyond space science.
Expressing confidence in the scientists of both nations, Modi said: “Our partnership in space will not only expand horizons above us, but also improve lives around us.”
He recalled India’s remarkable space achievements, from the historic Chandrayaan-3 landing at the lunar south pole to ongoing advances in interplanetary exploration. For India, he stressed, space is “not the final frontier, but the next frontier.”
Beyond the poetry of space exploration, Modi underlined the practical impact of space science on everyday life. From agriculture and disaster management to communications and navigation, the innovations driven by missions like Chandrayaan have tangible benefits for society.
A New Chapter in India-Japan Ties
The Chandrayaan-5 pact is more than a scientific milestone; it also reflects the growing strategic partnership between India and Japan. Together, the two nations are not only aiming for the stars but are also demonstrating how international cooperation can expand the horizons of human knowledge.
The agreement, inked between the Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency ( JAXA), was announced on Saturday during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Japan.
Chandrayaan-5 Mission Objective
The mission, also referred to as the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) Mission, will see the two nations pool their expertise to study volatile materials on the lunar surface.
At the heart of the mission lies the search for water and other elements preserved in the Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs) of the Moon’s south pole, areas that remain untouched by sunlight and may hold vital clues for future human space exploration.
Chandrayaan-5 Mission Design
Under the arrangement, the mission will be launched aboard JAXA’s H3-24L rocket. The spacecraft will carry an ISRO-developed lunar lander, which in turn will deploy a Japan-built rover designed to navigate the harsh polar terrain.
Beyond its engineering role, ISRO will also contribute several scientific instruments to enable in-situ analysis of volatile compounds in the region.
This collaboration is expected to provide groundbreaking insights into the Moon’s polar environment, paving the way for technologies and knowledge that could underpin sustainable lunar bases in the future.
Modi’s Vision for Space Cooperation
Speaking to The Yomiuri Shimbun, Prime Minister Modi described the mission as the “next edition of the Chandrayaan series”, highlighting its importance in deepening our knowledge of the Moon’s most mysterious regions.
“This will contribute to deepening our understanding of the permanently shadowed regions at the lunar south pole. Our collaboration between ISRO and JAXA is fostering innovation that flows both ways, from labs to launch pads, from research to real-world applications,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister further emphasised that government-to-government (G2G) collaboration between India and Japan in the space sector was also cultivating a culture of partnership among industries and start-ups. This, he noted, was laying the foundation for an ecosystem of innovation with benefits that extend far beyond space science.
Expressing confidence in the scientists of both nations, Modi said: “Our partnership in space will not only expand horizons above us, but also improve lives around us.”
He recalled India’s remarkable space achievements, from the historic Chandrayaan-3 landing at the lunar south pole to ongoing advances in interplanetary exploration. For India, he stressed, space is “not the final frontier, but the next frontier.”
Beyond the poetry of space exploration, Modi underlined the practical impact of space science on everyday life. From agriculture and disaster management to communications and navigation, the innovations driven by missions like Chandrayaan have tangible benefits for society.
A New Chapter in India-Japan Ties
The Chandrayaan-5 pact is more than a scientific milestone; it also reflects the growing strategic partnership between India and Japan. Together, the two nations are not only aiming for the stars but are also demonstrating how international cooperation can expand the horizons of human knowledge.
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