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{{Short description|Lunar exploration mission by India and Japan}}
{{Distinguish|Chandrayaan-3}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = Lunar Polar Exploration Mission(LUPEX)
| names_list = Lunar Polar Exploration<br/>LUPEX <ref name="Trak 2019">{{cite web|url=https://trak.in/tags/business/2019/05/20/after-mars-isro-to-set-a-date-with-venus-sun-7-interplanetary-missions-planned-for-space-exploration/|title=After Mars, ISRO to Set a Date with Venus|publisher=Trak.in|author=Malvika Gurung|date=20 May 2019|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="I Times">{{cite web |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/after-reaching-mars-india-s-date-with-venus-in-2023-confirmed-says-isro-367469.html|title=After Reaching Mars, India's Date With Venus In 2023 Confirmed, Says ISRO |work=The Times of India|date=18 May 2019|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref>
| image =
| image_caption =
| image_size = 300px

| mission_type = [[Lunar lander]], [[Lunar rover|rover]]
| operator = [[JAXA]] / [[ISRO]]
| COSPAR_ID =
| SATCAT =
| website = {{url|http://www.exploration.jaxa.jp/e/program/lunarpolar/}}
| mission_duration = 6 months (planned) <ref name= "MEXT_20190829"/>

| spacecraft_bus =
| manufacturer = Launcher and rover: [[JAXA]]<br/>Lander: [[Indian Space Research Organisation|ISRO]]
| launch_mass = ≈ {{cvt|6000|kg}} <ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=http://stage.tksc.jaxa.jp/compe/jouhou/FY2019-0010.pdf|title=月離着陸実証(HERACLES)ミッションの紹介と検討状況|date=28 January 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115174042/http://stage.tksc.jaxa.jp/compe/jouhou/FY2019-0010.pdf|archive-date=15 November 2019|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref>
| landing_mass =
| payload_mass = ≈ {{cvt|350|kg}} (lander with rover) <ref name="ActaAstro_2020"/>
| dimensions =
| power =

| launch_date = 2024 (planned) <ref name="Trak 2019"/><ref name="I Times"/>
| launch_rocket = [[H3 (rocket)|H3]]<ref name="JPN_20190730"/>
| launch_site = [[Tanegashima Space Center|Tanegashima]], [[Yoshinobu Launch Complex|LA-Y]]
| launch_contractor = [[Mitsubishi Heavy Industries]]

| interplanetary = {{Infobox spaceflight/IP
| type = lander
| component = Rover
| object = [[Moon]]
| arrival_date =
| location = [[Lunar south pole|South polar region]]
}}

{{Infobox spaceflight/IP
| type = rover
| object = Moon
| arrival_date =
| location =
| distance = 
| sample_mass = 
}}

| programme = [[Chandrayaan programme]]
| previous_mission = [[Chandrayaan-3]]
| next_mission =
}}

The '''Lunar Polar Exploration''' mission ('''LUPEX''') is a robotic lunar mission concept by [[Indian Space Research Organisation]] (ISRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency ([[JAXA]])<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indias-next-moon-shot-will-be-bigger-in-pact-with-japan/articleshow/71030437.cms|title=India's next Moon shot will be bigger, in pact with Japan |date=8 September 2019|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=10 March 2021|quote=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.}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://astrotalkuk.org/episode-82-jaxa-and-international-collaboration-with-professor-fujimoto-masaki/|title=Episode 82: JAXA and International Collaboration with Professor Fujimoto Masaki|publisher=Astro Talk UK|date=4 January 2019|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="GER2020">{{cite web |url=https://www.globalspaceexploration.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/GER_2020_supplement.pdf|title=Global Exploration Roadmap - Supplement August 2020 - Lunar Surface Exploration Scenario Update |publisher=NASA|date=August 2020|access-date=10 March 2021}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> that would send a [[lunar rover]] and [[Lunar lander|lander]] to explore the [[Lunar south pole|south pole]] region of the [[Moon]] in 2024.<ref name="Trak 2019"/><ref name="I Times"/><ref name="JPN_20190730">{{cite web|url=https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0005907013|title=Japan, India to team up in race to discover water on moon|last=Shimbun|first=The Yomiuri|newspaper=The Japan News|date=30 July 2019|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref> JAXA is likely to provide the under-development [[H3 (rocket)|H3]] [[launch vehicle]] and the rover, while ISRO would be responsible for the lander.<ref name=":0"/><ref name="JPGU2019">{{cite web|url=https://confit.atlas.jp/guide/event-img/jpgu2019/PPS08-15/public/pdf|title=Current status of a Japanese lunar polar exploration mission|last1=Hoshino|first1=Takeshi|last2=Ohtake|first2=Makiko|date=May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725143619/https://confit.atlas.jp/guide/event-img/jpgu2019/PPS08-15/public/pdf?type=in&lang=ja|last3=Karouji|first3=Yuzuru|last4=Shiraishi|first4=Hiroaki|archive-date=25 July 2019|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref>

The mission concept has not yet been formally proposed for funding and planning.<ref name="DNA">{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-isro-planning-7-interplanetary-missions-venus-on-the-to-do-list-2750331|title=ISRO planning 7 interplanetary missions, Venus on the to-do list|last=Sidharth|first=M. P.|publisher=DNA India|date=18 May 2019|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref>

== History ==
ISRO signed an Implementation Arrangement (IA) in December 2017 for pre-phase A, phase A study and completed the feasibility report in March 2018 with [[JAXA|Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency]] (JAXA)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indembassy-tokyo.gov.in/st_cooperation.html|title=Welcome to Embassy of India, Tokyo (Japan)|website=www.indembassy-tokyo.gov.in|access-date=2021-03-20}}</ref> to explore the polar regions of Moon for [[Lunar water|water]]<ref name="ID Jan 2018">{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/e1556a6c-e6ef-11e7-97e2-916d4fbac0da|title=India and Japan prepare joint mission to the moon|last1=Harding|first1=Robin|date=4 January 2018|work=Financial Times|access-date=2021-03-20|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104061323/https://www.ft.com/content/e1556a6c-e6ef-11e7-97e2-916d4fbac0da|archive-date=4 January 2018|last2=Kazmin|first2=Amy}}</ref> with a joint Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX) that would be launched by 2024.<ref name="Trak 2019"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spacetechasia.com/jaxa-isro-to-embark-on-joint-lunar-polar-exploration/|title=JAXA & ISRO to embark on Joint Lunar Polar Exploration|last=Goh|first=Deyana|date=2017-12-08|website=SpaceTech Asia|language=en-US|access-date=2021-03-20}}</ref>

ISRO and JAXA held the Joint Mission Definition Review (JMDR) in December 2018. By the end of 2019, JAXA concluded its internal Project Readiness Review.<ref>{{Cite web|date=October 2020|title=Progress Of Lunar Polar Exploration Mission|url=https://iafastro.directory/iac/paper/id/55917/abstract-pdf/IAC-20,A3,2B,9,x55917.brief.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref>

Since [[Chandrayaan-2]] could not soft land on Moon in September 2019, India started to study a new lunar mission namely '''[[Chandrayaan-3]]''' as a repeat attempt to demonstrate the landing capabilities needed for the LUPEX.<ref name="Wire_Nov2019">{{cite web |url=https://science.thewire.in/spaceflight/isro-chandrayaan-3-lunar-lander-rover-gaganyaan/|title=ISRO Will Embark on Chandrayaan 3 by November 2020 for Another Landing Attempt|publisher=The WIRE|date=14 November 2019|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref>

On 24 September 2019, in a joint statement by [[JAXA]] and [[NASA]] discussed possibility of NASA's participation as well.<ref name="JAXA">{{cite web|date=24 September 2019|title=JAXA - Joint Statement on Cooperation in Lunar Exploration|url=https://global.jaxa.jp/press/2019/09/20190924a.html|access-date=10 March 2021|publisher=JAXA - Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency}}</ref>

JAXA finished its domestic System Requirement Review (SRR) in early 2021.<ref name="LPSC_52_2021" />

== Overview ==
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.<ref name="UNOOSA">{{cite web|url=http://www.unoosa.org/documents/pdf/copuos/2019/copuos2019tech16E.pdf|title=JAXA's Lunar Exploration Activities|last=Sasaki|first=Hiroshi|date=17 June 2019|publisher=UNOOSA |page=8|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="JPGU2019"/> For precision landing it would utilize a feature matching algorithm and navigational equipment derived from JAXA's [[Smart Lander for Investigating Moon]] (SLIM) mission.<ref name=":2"/><ref name="NASA_ESF2019">{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2Uk0Had9Tc|title=NASA Exploration Science Forum 2019 - Masaki Fujimoto|time=3 minute 6 seconds|publisher=NASA|date=23-25 July 2019|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref> The lander's payload capacity would be {{cvt|350|kg}} at minimum.<ref name="ActaAstro_2020">{{cite journal |last1=Hoshino |first1=Takeshi |last2=Wakabayashi |first2=Sachiko |last3=Ohtake |first3=Makiko |last4=Karouji |first4=Yuzuru |last5=Hayashi |first5=Takahiro |last6=Morimoto |first6=Hitoshi |last7=Shiraishi |first7=Hiroaki |last8=Shimada |first8=Takanobu |last9=Hashimoto |first9=Tatsuaki |last10=Inoue |first10=Hiroka |last11=Hirasawa |first11=Ryo |last12=Shirasawa |first12=Yoji |last13=Mizuno |first13=Hiroyasu |last14=Kanamori |first14=Hiroshi |title=Lunar polar exploration mission for water prospection - JAXA's current status of joint study with ISRO |journal=Acta Astronautica |date=November 2020 |volume=176 |pages=52–58 |doi=10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.05.054 |bibcode=2020AcAau.176...52H }}</ref><ref name="MEXT_20190829"/><ref name="USRA">{{cite web|url=https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2020/pdf/1830.pdf|title=Objective and Configuration of a Planned Lunar Polar Exploration Mission|date=1 February 2020|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref> The rover would carry multiple instruments by JAXA and ISRO including a drill to collect sub-surface samples from {{cvt|1.5|m}} depth.<ref name="SPACE.COM">{{cite web|url=https://www.space.com/japan-moon-plans-with-nasa-india.html|title=Japan Sets Sights on Moon with NASA and India|publisher=SPACE.com|date=23 October 2019|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="MEXT_20190829">{{cite web|url=http://www.mext.go.jp/component/b_menu/shingi/toushin/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2019/08/29/1420708_2_1.pdf|title=国際協力による月探査計画への参画に向けて参考資料 |date=29 August 2019|publisher=MEXT.GO|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014163852/http://www.mext.go.jp/component/b_menu/shingi/toushin/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2019/08/29/1420708_2_1.pdf|archive-date=14 October 2019|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref> Water prospecting and analysis are likely to be mission objectives.<ref name=":0"/><ref name="Registrer">{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/08/14/chandrayaan2_headed_for_moon/|title=Six-day cruise lies ahead for India's Chandrayaan-2 probe before the real lunar shenanigans begin|publisher=The Register|date=14 August 2019|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref> Payload proposals from other space agencies might be sought.<ref name=":1"/><ref name="NASA_ESF2019"/>

== Payloads ==
Few selected Japanese instruments along with the candidate instruments of ISRO and the invited international collaborators by JAXA.<ref name = "LPSC_52_2021">{{Cite web|date=18 March 2021|title=Current Status Of The Planned Lunar Polar Exploration Mission Jointly Studied By India And Japan|url=https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2021/pdf/1840.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="JAXA_YT_2021">{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLb2OcuDro4|title=月極域探査機（LUPEX）【オンライン特別公開 #26】|time=10 minute 8 seconds|publisher=JAXA|date=7 April 2021|access-date=7 April 2021}}</ref>

* Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): Underground radar observation up to 1.5 meter during rover traverse. (ISRO)
* Neutron Spectrometer (NS): Underground neutron (hydrogen) observation up to 1 meter during rover traverse. (NASA)
* Advanced Lunar Imaging Spectrometer (ALIS): {{chem|H|2|O}}/OH observation of the surface and drilled regolith.
* Exospheric Mass Spectrometer for LUPEX (EMS-L): Surface gas pressure and chemical species measurement. (ESA)
* REsourceInvestigation Water Analyzer (REIWA): Instrument package of the four instruments.
** Lunar Thermogravimetric Analyzer (LTGA): Thermogravimetric analyses of the drilled samples for water content.
** TRIple-reflection reflecTrON (TRITON): Identification of chemical species of the volatile component in the drilled samples based on mass spectrometry.
** Aquatic Detector using Optical Resonance (ADORE): Water content measurement in the drilled samples based on cavity ring-down spectrometry.
** ISRO Sample Analysis Package: Mineralogical and elemental measurement of the drilled samples. (ISRO)

== See also ==

* [[Chandrayaan Programme]]
* [[In-situ resource utilization]]
* [[Lunar resources]]
* [[Lunar water]]
* [[VIPER (rover)]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Indian space programme}}
{{Indian spacecraft}}
{{Moon spacecraft}}
{{Future spaceflights}}

[[Category:Missions to the Moon]]
[[Category:Indian lunar exploration programme]]
[[Category:Lunar rovers]]
[[Category:Proposed spacecraft]]
[[Category:2024 in spaceflight]]

Lunar Polar Exploration Mission - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 10:09, 14 August 2023