Context:

Recently, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have signed an implementing arrangement for the Chandrayaan-5 mission, a joint lunar exploration mission focusing on the polar region of the Moon.

About Chandrayaan-5 mission:

The Chandrayaan-5 mission, also known as the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX), is a joint lunar mission between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Mission Objectives:

·        Study Lunar Volatiles: Investigate lunar volatile materials, including lunar water, in the vicinity of a Permanently Shadowed Region (PSR) at the lunar South Pole.

·        Precision Landing: Demonstrate new surface exploration technologies related to vehicular transport and lunar night survival for sustainable lunar exploration in polar regions.

·        Water Prospecting: Analyze water content, quality, and composition in the lunar regolith.

Spacecraft Components:

·        Lander: ISRO will develop the lunar lander, which will have a payload capacity of at least 350 kg.

·        Rover: JAXA will develop a 350 kg lunar rover, equipped with instruments from both JAXA and ISRO, including a drill to collect subsurface samples.

·        Launch Vehicle: JAXA's H3-24L launch vehicle will carry the spacecraft.

Payloads:

·        REIWA: Instrument package for analyzing water content and chemical species in drilled samples.

·        LTGA: Thermogravimetric analysis of drilled samples for water content.

·        TRITON: Identification of chemical species of volatile components in drilled samples.

·        ISAP: Mineralogical and elemental measurement of drilled samples.

Significance of the Partnership:

The partnership between ISRO and JAXA will strengthen cooperation in space research, foster innovation among industries and startups, and expand India's capabilities in lunar exploration.

·        The mission will contribute to deepening our understanding of the permanently shadowed regions at the lunar south pole and push the boundaries of space science.

·        The Chandrayaan-5 mission is a major milestone in India's long-term lunar roadmap, which envisions Indian astronauts landing on the Moon by 2040.

About Chandrayaan Missions:

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been actively pursuing lunar exploration through its Chandrayaan program.

·        Chandrayaan-1 (2008): Discovered water molecules and hydroxyl on the lunar surface

·        Chandrayaan-2 (2019): Soft-land a lander on the lunar South Pole and operate a rover. The orbiter was successful, but the lander and rover crashed during the landing attempt

·        Chandrayaan-3 (2023): Demonstrate safe and soft landing on the lunar South Pole and rove on the surface. Achieved a historic soft landing, making India the first nation to land in the lunar south polar region

o   Configuration: A lander (Vikram) and a rover (Pragyan)

·        Chandrayaan-4 (Planned)

Objective:

·        Safe landing on the lunar surface

·        Lunar sample collection

·        Ascent from the Moon

·        Docking in lunar orbit

·        Returning samples to Earth

Expected Launch: 2027

Conclusion:

Chandrayaan-5 mission is a testament to the growing partnership between India and Japan in space research and technology, and is expected to have far-reaching implications for the field of space exploration.