Japan And India Are Set To Launch A Joint Lunar Mission
In a major boost for the continually expanding Indo-Japanese ties, the two countries are set to launch a joint lunar mission called ‘Lunar Polar Exploration’. Under this mission, the lander and rover can be launched on the lunar floor for the primary time. Documents related to the mission have revealed that the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will lead to the development of the lander.
According to data shared by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa), the mission can be launched after 2023 as ISRO is presently engaged on the manned house program Gaganyaan (scheduled for launch in 2022). As per JAXA’s diagrams, it is expected to build the overall landing module and rover, while ISRO will be building the lander system. Also, the mission will be launched from Japan on JAXA’s designated H3 rocket.
Details about the mission
Launch Year – After 2023
Launch Vehicle – H3 Rocket
Launch Mass – 6 tonne+
Payload Mass – 350 Kg+ (including rover)
Operating Period – More than 3 months
Landing Point – South pole region of the Moon
Major Mission Equipment’s – Water Detector,
Science Instrument,
Environment Measuring Instrument
The idea of a united lunar mission of this kind between India and Japan was first made public in 2017 in Bengaluru during a multi-space agencies’ meeting. The mission was additionally a part of inter-governmental discussions throughout Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan in 2018. Now, pre-project groups, arranged earlier this year, are engaged in growing a complete administration plan for the collaborative mission. This group will study what’s required for the spacecraft system and numerous interface specs in affiliation with ISRO.
Jaxa stated that evaluation of observational information tells the existence of water within the polar areas of the Moon. Jaxa is working carefully with ISRO to plan a world collaborative mission to acquire information on the quantity and types of water current sources there. Jaxa has stated that it might have the ability to use these sources for sustainable house exploration actions sooner or later.
Through this mission, the distribution, circumstances, kind and different parameters of lunar water sources within the polar areas can be understood.