India, Japan collaborate to search for water ice on Moon's South Pole

India and Japan are preparing for possibly the most ambitious space mission of this decade: a joint lunar exploration that could change the way humanity looks at the Moon.

- BY S VENKAT NARAYAN OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

LUPEX, if successful, will pave the way for human bases on the Moon. The rover, expected to weigh around 350 kilograms, will be the heaviest ever sent to the Moon.

The mission, called Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX), also known as Chandrayaan-5, will attempt to land near the Moon's South Pole to search for water ice, a resource that could unlock permanent human presence beyond Earth.

The collaboration between Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is historic. For the first time, the two countries are combining their strengths. India will provide the lander, leveraging its proven technology from Chandrayaan-3, while Japan will contribute its powerful H3 launch vehicle and a sophisticated rover.

The mission is slated for launch in 2028.