Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday welcomed the agreement between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for the Chandrayaan-5 mission under the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) programme.
The LUPEX mission, jointly developed by ISRO and JAXA, aims to explore the moon’s south pole and study its hidden resources, including water ice. Chandrayaan-5 will mark the fifth mission in India’s Chandrayaan series.
Addressing a joint press briefing after bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, PM Modi said, “We welcome the collaboration between ISRO and JAXA for the Chandrayaan-5 mission. Our active participation has gone beyond the limits of the earth and will become a symbol of mankind’s progress in space.”
The Implementing Arrangement for LUPEX was exchanged between JAXA Vice President Matsuura Mayumi and Indian Ambassador Sibi George, giving practical shape to this landmark partnership.
Recalling the global acclaim for Chandrayaan-3’s successful landing near the lunar south pole in 2023, PM Modi noted that the next challenge lies in deeper exploration of permanently shadowed regions that may hold valuable resources.
“We believe Japanese technology and Indian ingenuity are a winning combination. Just as we are working together on high-speed rail, we will also make rapid progress in ports, aviation, and shipbuilding under the Next Generation Mobility Partnership. The LUPEX mission will further strengthen our cooperation in space,” the Prime Minister said.
The two leaders held discussions during the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit and exchanged agreements to deepen collaboration in multiple areas, including advanced technology, mobility, and space research.
Ahead of his visit, PM Modi had highlighted in an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun that India’s space journey reflects determination, innovation, and hard work of its scientists. He expressed confidence that the ISRO-JAXA partnership will expand the frontiers of space science and benefit people on Earth.
Under LUPEX, the mission will be launched onboard JAXA’s H3-24L rocket, carrying an ISRO-built lunar lander equipped with a Japanese rover. ISRO will also provide several scientific instruments for the mission.
Chandrayaan-5/LUPEX is expected to be a major milestone in India’s long-term lunar roadmap, which envisions Indian astronauts landing on the Moon by 2040.
(ANI)