Names | Lunar Polar Exploration[1][2] |
---|---|
Mission type | Lunar lander, rover |
Operator | ISRO / JAXA |
Website | www |
Mission duration | 6 months (planned)[3] |
Spacecraft properties | |
Manufacturer | Lander: ISRO Launcher and rover: JAXA |
Launch mass | ≈6,000 kg (13,000 lb) [4] |
Payload mass | ≈350 kg (770 lb) [5] |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | Suggested: 2024[1][2] |
Rocket | H3[6] |
Launch site | LA-Y, Tanegashima |
Contractor | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
Moon lander | |
Spacecraft component | Rover |
Landing site | South polar region |
Moon rover | |
The Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX) is a robotic lunar mission concept by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)[7][8][9] that would send a lunar rover and lander to explore the south pole region of the Moon in 2024.[1][2][6] JAXA is likely to provide the under-development H3 launch vehicle and the rover, while ISRO would be responsible for the lander.[8][10]
The mission concept has not yet been formally proposed for funding and planning.[11]
In November 2019, ISRO officials stated that a new lunar lander mission was being studied for launch in November 2020; this new proposal is called Chandrayaan-3 and it would be performed by ISRO alone as a repeat attempt to demonstrate the landing capabilities needed for the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission proposed in partnership with Japan in 2024.[12]
The Lunar Polar Exploration Mission would demonstrate new surface exploration technologies related to vehicular transport and lunar night survival for sustainable lunar exploration in polar regions.[13][10] For precision landing it would utilize a feature matching algorithm and navigational equipment derived from JAXA's SLIM mission.[4][14] The lander's payload capacity would be 350 kg (770 lb) at minimum.[5][3][15] The rover would carry multiple instruments by JAXA and ISRO including a drill to collect sub-surface samples from 1.5 m (4.9 ft) depth.[16][3] Water prospecting and analysis are likely to be mission objectives.[8][17] Payload proposals from other space agencies might be sought.[7][14]
On 24 September 2019, in a joint statement by JAXA and NASA discussed possibility of NASA's participation as well.[18]
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.