Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday welcomed the landmark agreement between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for the upcoming Chandrayaan-5 mission under the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) programme.
The collaboration marks another major step in India’s lunar exploration roadmap, following the global success of Chandrayaan-3’s soft landing in 2023. The LUPEX mission will not only deepen scientific exploration of the Moon but also reinforce India-Japan strategic partnership in advanced technology and space research.
The LUPEX mission will be jointly developed by ISRO and JAXA to explore the Moon’s south pole, a region believed to contain vast, untapped resources including water ice. The Chandrayaan-5 project will be India’s fifth lunar mission, continuing its ambitious journey in space exploration.
At a joint press briefing after his talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, PM Modi said the collaboration was symbolic of “mankind’s progress in space” and a reflection of India’s growing role in global space partnerships.
The Implementing Arrangement for LUPEX was formally exchanged between JAXA Vice President Matsuura Mayumi and Indian Ambassador Sibi George. This agreement gives practical shape to the mission, bringing together India’s proven expertise in lunar landing and Japan’s advanced space technologies.
This cooperation builds on the foundation of past successes while opening new avenues for deep-space exploration.
Recalling the historic achievement of Chandrayaan-3 in 2023, which made India the first nation to land near the lunar south pole, PM Modi highlighted that LUPEX will take the mission a step further.
The upcoming mission will focus on permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) on the Moon that remain untouched by sunlight. These regions are of immense scientific interest, as they may hold frozen water and other valuable resources crucial for future human habitation and interplanetary missions.
During his remarks, PM Modi said, “We believe Japanese technology and Indian ingenuity are a winning combination.” He drew parallels between the space mission and ongoing bilateral cooperation in high-speed rail, ports, aviation, and shipbuilding under the Next Generation Mobility Partnership.
The LUPEX collaboration thus goes beyond a single mission, symbolizing deepening ties between India and Japan in technology and innovation-driven sectors.
The announcement came during the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit, where PM Modi and PM Shigeru Ishiba discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties. The summit saw agreements across advanced technology, mobility, energy, and space research, making LUPEX one of the flagship initiatives of India-Japan cooperation.
Ahead of his visit, PM Modi also emphasized in an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun that India’s space journey reflects “determination, innovation, and the hard work of its scientists.” He expressed confidence that the ISRO-JAXA partnership will push the frontiers of space science while delivering tangible benefits to people on Earth.
The LUPEX mission will be launched aboard JAXA’s H3-24L rocket, one of Japan’s most powerful launch vehicles.
ISRO will develop the lunar lander, equipped with multiple scientific instruments to study the Moon’s surface and environment.
JAXA will contribute a sophisticated lunar rover designed to explore and analyze the south pole region.
The joint mission will focus on resource mapping, water-ice detection, and long-term lunar sustainability research.
This mission is expected to provide critical data for India’s long-term lunar roadmap, which envisions Indian astronauts setting foot on the Moon by 2040.
Conclusion
The ISRO-JAXA collaboration for Chandrayaan-5 LUPEX is more than just a scientific mission—it is a symbol of India-Japan friendship and global space cooperation. With India’s proven success in lunar exploration and Japan’s advanced space technology, LUPEX could unlock vital resources on the Moon’s south pole, paving the way for sustainable human presence in space. As PM Modi rightly said, the mission reflects not only national pride but also humanity’s collective progress in exploring the cosmos.