India and Japan ink pact for Chandrayaan-5 to explore moon together

Synopsis
India and Japan formalize collaboration for Chandrayaan-5 mission. The mission focuses on lunar polar exploration. ISRO and JAXA will jointly explore the moon's south pole. JAXA's H3-24L launch vehicle will carry ISRO's lander and Japan's rover. The mission aims to study lunar water and other volatile materials. This partnership will enhance understanding of the lunar south pole.
The Chandrayaan-5 mission aims to study the lunar volatile materials, including lunar water, in the vicinity of a Permanently Shadowed Region (PSR) in the lunar South pole.
The mission will be launched by JAXA onboard its H3-24L launch vehicle, carrying the ISRO-made lunar lander, which will carry the Japan-made lunar rover.
ISRO, apart from developing the lunar lander, is also responsible for developing a few scientific instruments for the mission for exploration and in-situ analysis of the volatiles reserved in the lunar polar region.
"I am glad that India and Japan are joining hands for the next edition of the Chandrayaan series or the LUPEX (Lunar Polar Exploration) mission. This will contribute to deepening our understanding of the permanently shadowed regions at the lunar south pole," PM Narendra Modi said in an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun.
"Our G2G collaboration in the space sector, between ISRO and JAXA, is fostering a culture of cooperation between our industries and startups. This is creating an ecosystem where innovation flows both ways - from labs to launch pads, and from research to real-world applications," PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister said he was confident that the scientific teams of India and Japan will be working together to push the boundaries of space science.
"And, our partnership in space will not only expand horizons above us, but also improve lives around us," PM Modi said.
He said India's space journey is a story of determination, hard work and innovation of the country's scientists.
The Prime Minister said the impact of space science is linked to progress in our daily lives, from agriculture, disaster management, to communications and beyond.
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