ISRO–JAXA Lunar Mission To Boost Startup Collaboration, Says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India’s joint space ventures with Japan will not only advance lunar exploration but also strengthen cooperation between industries and startups in both countries.

In an interview with the Japanese daily ‘The Yomiuri Shimbun’, the Prime Minister highlighted that the missions will deepen scientific understanding of the Moon’s south pole.

“Our government-to-government collaboration in the space sector, between ISRO and JAXA, is fostering a culture of cooperation between our industries and startups. This is creating an ecosystem where innovation flows both ways — from labs to launch pads, and from research to real-world applications,” PM Modi stated.

He further added, “I am glad that India and Japan are joining hands for the next edition of the Chandrayaan series or the LUPEX (Lunar Polar Exploration) mission. This will contribute to deepening our understanding of the permanently shadowed regions at the lunar south pole.”

LUPEX Mission in 2027–28

The LUPEX mission, planned for launch in 2027–28 on Japan’s H3 rocket, will involve a JAXA-built rover and an ISRO-developed lander to study and analyse water ice in the south polar region.

“I am confident that our scientific teams will be working together to push the boundaries of space science. And, our partnership in space will not only expand horizons above us, but also improve lives around us,” the Prime Minister said.

Reflecting on India’s space journey, PM Modi called it ‘a story of determination, hard work, and innovation of our scientists’. adding that space should be seen as ‘the next frontier’.

“From Chandrayaan-3’s historic landing on the moon’s south pole to our advances in interplanetary missions, India has consistently demonstrated that space is not the final frontier, it is the next frontier,” PM Modi noted.

The Prime Minister also underlined the everyday benefits of space technology in areas like agriculture, disaster management, and communication.

PM Modi is currently on a two-day visit to Japan at the invitation of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. This is his eighth visit to the country, following his last trip in May 2023.

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