Lunar Polar Exploration Mission

The Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX) is a planned joint space mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) aimed at exploring the Moon’s south polar region. The mission seeks to investigate the presence and distribution of water ice in permanently shadowed craters, as well as to test technologies for sustainable lunar exploration. It marks a significant collaboration between India and Japan in planetary exploration and represents a step towards future human and robotic activity on the Moon.

Background

Interest in the lunar south pole has increased globally due to the potential presence of water ice in shadowed craters, first suggested by satellite observations from missions such as NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and ISRO’s Chandrayaan-1. Water ice is regarded as a crucial resource for future exploration, providing life support and potential fuel for deeper space missions.
Building on the successes of Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2, ISRO partnered with JAXA to develop LUPEX, combining India’s experience in lunar orbital missions and landers with Japan’s expertise in rover technology.

Objectives

The mission has multiple scientific and technological goals:

• Water Ice Exploration: Confirm the presence, quantity, and accessibility of lunar polar water ice.
• Surface and Subsurface Analysis: Study regolith properties and thermal conditions at the polar region.
• Technology Demonstration: Test advanced landing techniques for challenging polar terrains.
• Future Exploration Support: Assess resource utilisation possibilities for long-duration human presence on the Moon.

Mission Design

The mission architecture involves contributions from both ISRO and JAXA:

• Lander (ISRO): India will provide the lander module, designed for a soft landing near the lunar south pole. It will incorporate lessons learned from Chandrayaan-2’s Vikram lander.
• Rover (JAXA): Japan will provide a highly mobile rover capable of operating in polar terrain, equipped with instruments to drill into the regolith and analyse samples for water content.
• Launch Vehicle: The mission is expected to be launched aboard Japan’s H3 rocket.
• Payloads: Both Indian and Japanese scientific instruments will be carried, with possible international contributions.

Expected Payloads and Instruments

• Drill System: Capable of penetrating up to one metre below the surface to search for subsurface ice.
• Spectrometers and Analysers: For mineralogy, chemical composition, and water content measurement.
• Thermal and Imaging Sensors: To study temperature distribution and geological features.
• Ground Penetrating Radar (possible): To characterise subsurface structures.

Significance

• Scientific Value: LUPEX will help answer fundamental questions about the distribution of lunar water and its origin.
• Exploration Readiness: Demonstrates key technologies for landing, mobility, and utilisation of in-situ resources.
• International Collaboration: Enhances space cooperation between Asia’s leading space agencies.
• Global Strategy: Complements ongoing efforts such as NASA’s Artemis programme and contributes to humanity’s long-term vision of lunar settlement.

Challenges

• Landing Difficulty: The rugged terrain and low lighting conditions of the lunar south pole make precise landing highly complex.
• Thermal Extremes: Permanently shadowed regions experience extreme cold, requiring robust thermal design for instruments.
• Resource Extraction Technology: Demonstrating ice detection and possible extraction is technologically challenging.

Current Status and Timeline

As of the latest planning, the mission is expected to launch in the late 2020s. Development work is ongoing, with ISRO focusing on improving lander reliability and JAXA advancing rover systems. Timelines may shift depending on technical readiness and coordination between the agencies.