Lunar Polar Exploration Mission

Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX)
Mission type
Operator
Websitewww.exploration.jaxa.jp/e/program/lunarpolar/
Mission duration6 months (planned) [1]
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerLauncher and rover: JAXA
Lander: ISRO
Launch mass≈ 6,000 kg (13,000 lb) [2]
Payload mass≈ 350 kg (770 lb) (lander with rover) [3]
Powerwatts
Start of mission
Launch date2028–29 (planned)[4]
RocketH3[5]
Launch siteTanegashima, LA-Y
ContractorMitsubishi Heavy Industries
Moon lander
Spacecraft componentRover
Landing siteSouth polar region
Moon rover

The Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX),[6] is a planned joint lunar mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).[7][8] The mission would send an uncrewed lunar lander and rover to explore the south pole region of the Moon no earlier than 2028.[4][5] It is envisaged to explore the permanently shadowed regions and to determine the quantity and quality of water on the Moon.[9] JAXA is likely to provide the H3 launch vehicle and the rover, while ISRO would be providing the lander.[10][11]

LUPEX will follow the planned lunar sample-return mission Chandrayaan-4.[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference MEXT_20190829 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "月離着陸実証(HERACLES)ミッションの紹介 と検討状況" (PDF). 28 January 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference ActaAstro_2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c Jones, Andrew (23 October 2024). "India to target moon's south pole with sample return mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b Shimbun, The Yomiuri (30 July 2019). "Japan, India to team up in race to discover water on moon". The Japan News. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  6. ^ "ISRO working on ambitious lunar missions LUPEX, Chandrayaan-4: Official". The Economic Times. 17 November 2023. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  7. ^ "India's next Moon shot will be bigger, in pact with Japan". The Times of India. 8 September 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2021. For our next mission — Chandrayaan-3 — which will be accomplished in collaboration with JAXA (Japanese Space Agency), we will invite other countries too to participate with their payloads.
  8. ^ "Global Exploration Roadmap - Supplement August 2020 - Lunar Surface Exploration Scenario Update" (PDF). NASA. August 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. ^ Hindu, The (31 January 2024). "India's next moon mission will be precursor to the country's ambitious lunar sample return mission: PRL Director". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Episode 82: JAXA and International Collaboration with Professor Fujimoto Masaki". Astro Talk UK. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  11. ^ Hoshino, Takeshi; Ohtake, Makiko; Karouji, Yuzuru; Shiraishi, Hiroaki (May 2019). "Current status of a Japanese lunar polar exploration mission". Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2021.