Lunar Polar Exploration Mission
| Mission type | |
|---|---|
| Operator | |
| Website | www |
| Mission duration | 6 months (planned) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Launch vehicle and rover: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Lander: ISRO |
| Launch mass | ≈ 6,200 kg (13,700 lb) |
| Payload mass | ≈ 350–400 kg (770–880 lb) (lander with rover) |
| Power | watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 2028–29 (planned) |
| Rocket | H3-24 |
| Launch site | Tanegashima, LA-Y |
| Contractor | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Moon lander | |
| Spacecraft component | Rover |
| Landing site | South polar region |
| Moon rover | |
The Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX) (also called as Chandrayaan-5) is a planned joint lunar mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The mission would send an uncrewed lunar lander and rover to explore the south pole region of the Moon no earlier than 2028. It is envisaged to explore the permanently shadowed regions and to determine the quantity and quality of water on the Moon. JAXA is likely to provide the H3 launch vehicle and instruments and ISRO would be providing the lander. Both sides will also develop a 250kg lunar rover.
LUPEX will follow the planned lunar sample-return mission Chandrayaan-4.