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Why in News?
- India’s Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) held a joint technical meeting on 24 Nov 2025 to review the status of the Chandrayaan-5 / LUPEX mission.
What is LuPEX Mission
- LUPEX is a planned robotic lunar mission by India (ISRO) and Japan (JAXA).
- Aim: to send a lunar lander and rover to the south polar region of the Moon.
- Launch timeframe: no earlier than around 2028-29.
Objectives
- Search for and study water ice and other volatiles in the Moon’s south polar region.
- Demonstrate technologies for exploring the lunar surface (landing, roving, drilling, night-survival in harsh conditions).
- Collect data useful for future human lunar exploration and utilisation of lunar resources.
Roles & cooperation
- ISRO will provide the lander module (the part that touches down on the Moon).
- JAXA will provide the rover and contribute the launch vehicle (H3 rocket) and some instruments.
