Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a two-day visit to Japan from August 29 to 30 for the India-Japan Annual Summit, reinforcing the robust strategic partnership between the two nations.
Among the key focus areas on the agenda is an expanding collaboration in the space sector, including the ambitious Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission being developed jointly by ISRO and JAXA.
This high-level visit is part of the regular diplomatic engagements that have steadily elevated the India-Japan relationship into a comprehensive partnership spanning strategic, economic, technological, and defence dimensions. Space cooperation has increasingly emerged as a symbol of this convergence.
A Shared Lunar Ambition: LUPEX Mission
One of the headline initiatives driving India-Japan space ties is the LUPEX mission, a collaborative lunar venture aimed at exploring the Moon’s south polar region, an area of immense scientific interest due to its potential water ice reserves and suitability for future human missions.
Responding to queries at a pre-visit briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, “The ISRO and the Japanese Space Agency are working together on something called LUPEX, the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission. And this is being pursued in tandem with India’s Chandrayaan-5 mission.”
Highlighting the broader vision behind the collaboration, Misri added, “This is an important area that also provides an avenue for Indian space start-ups to demonstrate their capabilities and contribute meaningfully to an international scientific mission.”
The LUPEX mission is expected to launch later this decade and will combine India’s strength in lander technology with Japan’s experience in rover systems and scientific instrumentation.
Beyond the Moon
The drive for space collaboration between the two countries has grown steadily, with the Third India-Japan Space Dialogue held in March 2025 advancing joint initiatives across key domains. Current discussions between ISRO and JAXA extend beyond LUPEX, focusing on:
- Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)
- Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
- Space security and norms
- Earth observation and satellite applications
Both countries see these areas not only as vital for national advancement but also as pillars of regional stability and technological leadership in the Indo-Pacific.
Joint Opportunities Across the Space Ecosystem
Both countries are exploring collaborative opportunities across the entire space value chain, including satellite development, robotic exploration, space science missions, and Earth observation. As both invest heavily in their respective space programs, the scope for joint missions, shared research, and co-development of technologies is widening.
This includes:
- Climate and disaster monitoring satellites to address common environmental challenges
- Joint planetary science missions to explore deep space phenomena
- Cooperation in human spaceflight programs, including astronaut training and technology sharing
- Advanced R&D in robotics, navigation, propulsion, and space-based communications
A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted: “This partnership is not limited to lunar missions. It holds the potential to drive significant breakthroughs in Earth observation, satellite communications, and even manned missions in the long term.”
Supporting Start-Ups and Innovation
The space dialogue also reflects a growing recognition of the role of start-ups and private industry in shaping the future of space technology. India’s booming space-tech ecosystem is expected to benefit from exposure to Japan’s advanced industrial capabilities, while Japanese firms gain access to India’s cost-effective innovation and manufacturing base.
Through joint innovation platforms, academic partnerships, and technology incubation initiatives, both countries are aiming to create new pathways for knowledge exchange and capacity building.
A Strategic Milestone for the Indo-Pacific
Both nations seek to deepen strategic convergence in the face of evolving geopolitical and technological dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. The space sector, with its blend of scientific ambition and strategic relevance, stands out as a key pillar of this engagement.
The outcomes of the summit are expected to pave the way for stronger bilateral cooperation, including formalizing new space agreements, launching joint projects, and strengthening multilateral coordination in global space governance.