Isro announces Indo-Japan joint lunar mission

Isro chairman AS Kiran Kumar on Friday announced a Indo-Japanese joint lunar mission.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of 24th Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF), he said that India and Japan have decided to take up a joint lunar mission.

"We've just now decided to work together in this regard. We will discuss modalities and clarity would emerge in about six months," he said.

Kiran Kumar clarified that there would not be any participation from other countries in the mission.

"We want to study traces of water which Isro established on the soil of the moon. We want to take some samples, bring them to earth for further studies," he said.

On competing with China, he said there was no competition from any country and the fruits of space technology should be utilised for the welfare of the world.

Dr Naoki Okumura, Kiran's Japanese counterpart said Japan would work closely with India to study the impact of climate change and his country would soon ink with Isro for the joint mission.

Kiran Kumar said the APRSAF meeting discussed making space knowledge and information available to various entities.  

Developing small satellites, promotion of educational activities and promotion of space application were also discussed in the conference. India is hosting the conference after 10 years.