India Moon Landing Paves Way for Lunar Water Search With Japan

By Ryosuke Matsuzoe, Satoshi Iwaki and Nikkei staff writers

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The joint India-Japan LUPEX mission aims to explore the moon’s south pole for frozen water resources. Photo: IC Photo

(Nikkei Asia) — India’s successful unmanned lunar landing has added momentum to a water exploration mission with Japan that is scheduled to start from fiscal 2025, as a new race to the moon heats up.

Countries are stepping up lunar exploration in hopes of tapping its resources. The feat makes India the fourth country to land on the moon, joining the elite club of space exploration that includes the U.S., Russia and China.