August 30, 2025

In an exciting leap for space lovers, India and Japan have officially joined hands for the Chandrayaan-5 mission, a spectacular journey to explore the Moon’s shadowy south pole. On the sidelines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan, ISRO and JAXA signed a special agreement to work together. This mission is also called Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX). Why the Moon's south pole? This part of the Moon is always in darkness, known as Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs). These chilly spots might hide treasures like water and other important materials that could help human space missions in the future. The plan is thrilling! JAXA will launch the mission on their powerful H3-24L rocket. The spacecraft will carry a clever Indian lunar lander, which will soon release a tough Japanese rover to crawl across the tough, icy terrain. ISRO is not just sending its lander—they’re also equipping the mission with smart scientific tools to study the Moon’s volatile compounds right there on the ground. Prime Minister Modi called this mission the “next edition of the Chandrayaan series.” He told The Yomiuri Shimbun, "This will contribute to deepening our understanding of the permanently shadowed regions at the lunar south pole." He was clear that the collaboration between ISRO and JAXA is inspiring fresh ideas — "from labs to launch pads, from research to real-world applications." Modi believes this partnership is more than just rockets and rovers. It is growing a culture where businesses and startups from both countries innovate and thrive. He said, "Our partnership in space will not only expand horizons above us, but also improve lives around us." Remember, India's Chandrayaan-3 made history by landing at the lunar south pole, and the journey doesn’t stop there. Modi said, "Space is not the final frontier, but the next frontier." This cosmic cooperation is a shining example of how India and Japan are reaching for the stars — together! The results will help build a future where humans could live on the Moon sustainably and bring innovations back home that touch everyday lives, from farming to disaster management and communication. The Chandrayaan-5 mission is not just science; it’s a bright new chapter in India-Japan friendship, opening fresh paths in the universe and on Earth.

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Tags: Chandrayaan-5, Isro, Jaxa, Moon's south pole, India-japan space collaboration, Lupex mission,