Lunar Polar Exploration Mission
The Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX) 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 2026.It is envisaged to explore the permanently shadowed regions on the Moon. JAXA is likely to provide the H3 launch vehicle and the rover, while ISRO would be providing the lander.
| Mission type | |
|---|---|
| Operator | |
| Website | www |
| Mission duration | 6 months (planned) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Launcher and rover: JAXA Lander: ISRO |
| Launch mass | ≈ 6,000 kg (13,000 lb) |
| Payload mass | ≈ 350 kg (770 lb) (lander with rover) |
| Power | watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 2026-28 (planned) |
| Rocket | H3 |
| Launch site | Tanegashima, LA-Y |
| Contractor | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Moon lander | |
| Spacecraft component | Rover |
| Landing site | South polar region |
| Moon rover | |
As per Professor Anil Bhardwaj, Director of Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), LUPEX will serve as a precursor to planned lunar sample-return mission Chandrayaan-4.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.