Current Context: ISRO and JAXA agreed to begin the design phase of their joint Chandrayaan-5 / Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission, targeting the Moon’s south pole.

About Chandrayaan-5 / LUPEX:

• Mission Goals:
  • Study volatile compounds (water, ice) in permanently shadowed lunar craters.
  • Search for resources to support future human missions.
• International Partnership:
  • India (ISRO): Builds the lander.
  • Japan (JAXA): Provides the rover.
  • Additional Instruments: Contributions expected from NASA and ESA.
• Legacy Missions:
  • Chandrayaan-1 & 2 (orbiters)
  • Chandrayaan-3 (lander and rover)
  • Upcoming Chandrayaan-4 (sample-return)
• Long-Term Vision: India aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2040.