Chandrayaan-5 Mission: India and Japan Set to Begin Design Phase

India and Japan are advancing the Chandrayaan-5 (LUPEX) mission, focused on exploring the Moon’s water and ice. The preliminary design phase for the lander (by ISRO) and rover (by JAXA) is starting soon. Scheduled for launch in 2027-28 via a Japanese H3 rocket, the mission will use a rover to identify water-rich areas, drill soil samples, and analyze water content with seven scientific instruments, including contributions from ESA and NASA. The mission aims to last about 3.5 months, with potential extension. Collaborative planning continues with JAXA visiting ISRO in Bengaluru for discussions.