Japanese space agency and ISRO to collaborate on a moon mission
Agreements
4 min read
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch its next Moon mission in partnership with Japanese space agency Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The joint venture named Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX) is slated to be launched in the year 2025.
The Japanese agency JAXA will develop the lunar rover and ISRO will develop the lander .The rover will carry not only the instruments of ISRO and JAXA but also those of US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and European Space Agency (ESA).
According to JAXA, the LUPEX mission is aimed at exploring lunar polar region suitability for establishing a base on the Moon for sustainable activities; obtaining knowledge regarding the availability of lunar water-ice resources, and demonstrating lunar and planetary surface exploration technologies such as vehicular transport and overnight survival.
Lunar Mission of ISRO
The lunar mission of ISRO is called Chandrayaan . ISRO has already launched three missions to the Moon named Chandrayaan -1,2 and 3.
Chandrayaan- I
It was launched on 22 October 2008 by ISRO on a PSLV-C11 launch vehicle. Chandrayaan -I mission carried a Moon Impact Probe (MIP) that was designed to test systems for future landings and study the thin lunar atmosphere before crashing on the Moon’s surface. MIP deliberately crashed near the south pole of the moon . But before it crashed it discovered small amounts of water in the Moon’s atmosphere.
Chadrayaan-2
It was launched by ISRO on July 22, 2019, on a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III(GSLV-Mark III). The spacecraft consisted of an orbiter, a lander named Vikram, and a rover named Pragyan(sanskrit meaning wisdom). However the lander Vikram crashed on the South pole of the Moon. The Orbiter is still orbiting the Moon.
Chandrayaan-3
It was launched by ISRO from Sriharikota on July 14, 2023, on a GSLV- Mark III (LVM-3) heavy lift rocket . The spacecraft consists of a lander named Vikram, and a rover named Pragyan. The lander will attempt to touch down on the Moon and then deploy the rover on 23rd August 2023.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
It was set up on 15 August 1969
It is India's national space agency .
Vikarm Sarabhai is considered to be the founder of ISRO and was the first chairman of ISRO.
Headquarters : Bengaluru
Chairman: S.Somanath
Important full form for exam
ISRO: Indian Space Research Organisation
NASA : National Aeronautics and Space Administration
