Indian and Japanese space agencies on Thursday reviewed their ongoing cooperation to launch a joint lunar polar exploration (LUPEX) mission.

Scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have been working on a mission that aims to send a lander and rover to the Moon's south pole around 2024. Secretary in the Department of Space and ISRO Chairman K Sivan and JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa led their delegations at a bilateral meeting held on virtual mode.

"Apart from reviewing on-going cooperation in earth observation, lunar cooperation and satellite navigation, both sides have agreed to explore opportunities for cooperation in space situational awareness and professional exchange programme", an ISRO statement said.

"On this occasion, both agencies signed an 'Implementing Arrangement' for collaborative activities on rice crop area and air quality monitoring using satellite data", the Bengaluru headquartered space agency said. On March four, India and Italy decided to explore opportunities in the field of earth observation, space science and robotic and human exploration.

On February 28, ISRO successfully launched the 637-kg Brazilian satellite Amazonia-1 onboard PSLV-C51 rocket from Sriharikota spaceport. Brazil's Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Marcos Pontes visited ISROs Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh's Nellore district, about 100 kms from Chennai, and witnessed the launch. Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who heads the DoS, also had a virtual interaction with Pontes and officials of the Brazilian space agency.

Afghanistan honours destruction of 2 Buddha statues by Taliban

Quad Summit online meet Tomorrow, Rare Metals on Agenda

Myanmar military accuses Suu Kyi of taking USD 600,000 illegal payment