During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Tokyo, India and Japan solidified their strategic partnership by signing an implementing arrangement for the Chandrayaan-5 mission, a joint lunar polar exploration endeavor. This mission, a collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), aims to delve deeper into the Moon's south pole, particularly the permanently shadowed regions (PSRs), in search of lunar water and other volatile materials.

Chandrayaan-5, also known as the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX), represents the next significant step in understanding the lunar environment and its potential resources. The mission is slated for launch in 2028-29, utilizing JAXA's H3 launch vehicle. A key feature of this joint mission is the synergy between the two space agencies: ISRO is developing the lunar lander, while JAXA is providing the lunar rover. The rover, expected to be the heaviest deployed on the lunar surface thus far, will weigh approximately 250 kg, significantly larger than the 25 kg Pragyan rover of Chandrayaan-3. This enhanced rover will facilitate more extensive exploration of the shadowed regions, where water ice is believed to exist.

The primary objective of Chandrayaan-5 is to study lunar volatiles, including water ice, in the vicinity of PSRs at the lunar south pole. These permanently shadowed regions are of particular interest because they are areas where sunlight never reaches, allowing for the potential accumulation and preservation of water ice over billions of years. The mission will involve drilling into the lunar regolith to analyze the water content, quality, and composition. Furthermore, spectrometers and sensors will be used to conduct in-situ scientific observations. The data collected will be crucial for future lunar exploration and potential habitation.

Prime Minister Modi expressed his enthusiasm for the Chandrayaan-5 mission, stating that it would deepen the understanding of the permanently shadowed regions at the lunar south pole. He emphasized that the collaboration between ISRO and JAXA fosters a culture of cooperation between industries and startups in both countries, creating an ecosystem where innovation flows from labs to launch pads and from research to real-world applications. Modi also noted that this partnership in space would not only expand horizons but also improve lives on Earth.

The Chandrayaan-5 mission follows the success of Chandrayaan-3, which made history in 2023 by becoming the first spacecraft to soft-land near the Moon's south pole. Building on this achievement and the proposed lunar sample return mission of Chandrayaan-4, Chandrayaan-5 aims to further explore the Moon's surface and subsurface to locate lunar water and ice deposits. The mission will carry seven scientific instruments, including a mass spectrometer from the European Space Agency (ESA) and neutron spectrometers from NASA.

This collaboration extends beyond scientific exploration, symbolizing the broader strategic and scientific partnership between India and Japan. During the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to advancing cooperation across various sectors, including health, mobility, artificial intelligence, and science and technology. Japan has also set an investment target of 10 trillion yen in India over the next decade, demonstrating the deepening economic ties between the two nations. The leaders also launched an Economic Security Initiative to promote supply chain resilience in sectors such as semiconductors, clean energy, and critical minerals.

The Chandrayaan-5 mission is a significant milestone in India's long-term lunar roadmap, which envisions Indian astronauts landing on the Moon by 2040. This joint mission not only strengthens Indo-Japanese space cooperation but also enhances India's position in global space research and contributes to the understanding of potential lunar resource utilization. The mission exemplifies the shared vision of India and Japan to explore space for peaceful and scientific purposes, contributing to regional stability and global innovation.