Gajendra Singh Godara
Aug 31, 2025
8
mins read
The LUPEX Mission (Lunar Polar Exploration Mission) is India’s planned fifth lunar mission, undertaken jointly by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Also called Chandrayaan-5, it will carry an ISRO-built lander and a JAXA-built rover to the Moon’s south polar region. This rover will look for water-ice and other volatiles, drilling into the lunar surface and checking lunar soil and analyzing samples. The mission was approved by India’s space panel on March 10, 2025 and is slated to launch around 2027–28 on Japan’s new H3 rocket. LUPEX includes seven scientific instruments (some from NASA and ESA) to map and study water/ice in permanently shadowed craters.
India and Japan signed the implementing arrangement for Chandrayaan-5/LUPEX mission during PM Modi's Tokyo visit (August 29, 2025), formalizing their lunar polar exploration partnership between ISRO and JAXA.
Table of content
Water/Ice Search: Explore the lunar polar regions, especially Moon’s south polar permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) for water and other volatiles. These dark craters (e.g. Shackleton) may trap ice. The mission will map the distribution of hydrogen and water-ice and assess its abundance and quality.
Drilling & Analysis: Drill up to approximately 1 meter into the regolith and perform in-situ analysis. Onboard spectrometers (mass spectrometers by ESA, neutron spectrometers by NASA) will measure water content and composition of samples.
Technology Demonstration: Validate advanced lunar rover and lander technologies for lunar night survival and rough terrain. The LUPEX rover features world-first innovations in its driving system and battery to endure long lunar nights. It will autonomously navigate steep slopes and recharge its batteries using daytime sunlight and thermal control.
LUPEX will specifically target these dark craters that never see sunlight. By operating in these cold traps, the mission hopes to directly detect and quantify frozen volatiles on-site. This builds on lessons from Chandrayaan-3’s south-pole landing and aims to advance plans for sustainable lunar exploration.
Lander (ISRO): India’s ISRO will provide the ~6000 kg lander module. It will carry the rover to the surface and host some science instruments. The lander uses technologies from Chandrayaan-3 and is designed for precise soft-landing in rugged terrain.
Rover (JAXA): Japan’s JAXA will build the ~350 kg LUPEX rover. This larger rover (much bigger than Chandrayaan-3’s Pragyan) will roam the surface to collect samples. It can climb slopes up to 25° and will drill for samples. The rover carries cameras and instruments from ISRO, JAXA, NASA, and ESA.
Instruments: Total 7 payloads, including: ESA’s mass spectrometer and NASA’s neutron spectrometers. Additional Indian instruments include ground-penetrating radar (to probe subsurface) and spectrometers for surface mineralogy
Mission Duration: The mission is planned for about 100 days (3.5 months) on the Moon. Depending on performance, it could be extended up to a year to maximize science return. Toward the mission's end, LUPEX may attempt to explore parts of the Moon’s far side using relays through the lander or satellites.
Launch Details: Scheduled around 2027–28 on a Japanese H3 heavy rocket. India and Japan are finalizing engineering and approvals; a technical meeting was held in May 2025 for mission details.
Next Steps: The immediate precursor is Chandrayaan-4 (planned before LUPEX) which will return lunar samples to Earth. LUPEX builds on Chandrayaan-3’s success (first soft landing at south pole in 2023) and supports India’s long-term goal of crewed Moon missions.
Moon Water and Resources: Confirming lunar water/ice resources is crucial for science and future human exploration. LUPEX’s findings will inform in-situ resource utilization (e.g., life support, rocket fuel).
Technology & International Collaboration: It demonstrates advanced space tech (drilling, power systems) and strengthens India-Japan space partnership, with NASA/ESA as co-investigators. Understanding LUPEX helps link current affairs to international space diplomacy and strategic technology development.
Precursor to Human Landing: As noted by ISRO leadership, LUPEX (and the lander technology it tests) is part of the phased roadmap toward an Indian crewed Moon landing. The mission also aids Artemis-era cooperation, aligning with allied space agencies’ goals.
Chandrayaan‑1 (2008): Orbiter + impact probe; provided first definitive evidence of lunar surface water/hydroxyl, triggering a global rethink of lunar volatiles.
Chandrayaan‑2 (2019): Orbiter operational; lander/rover lost during descent; orbiter continues mapping, supporting future landings.
Chandrayaan‑3 (2023): First softlanding in lunar southpolar region; Pragyan rover operations; landing site named Station Shiv Shakti.
Chandrayaan‑4 (planned ~2027–28): Complex lunar sample‑return mission with multi‑module architecture and Earth/lunar‑orbit docking; technology precursor toward a 2040 human lunar goal. Final approval and development activities are underway.
Chandrayaan‑5/LUPEX (joint with JAXA; ~2027–28): South‑polar exploration focused on in‑situ water‑ice detection and subsurface probing; in preliminary design phase with ISRO lander and JAXA rover.
Read more about ISRO’s HOPE Mission, its objectives & significance : Human Outer Planetary Exploration (HOPE), Objectives & Significance - PadhAI
Q. What is the main task of India’s third moon mission which could not be achieved in its earlier mission? List the countries that have achieved this task. Introduce the subsystems in the spacecraft launched and explain the role of the ‘Virtual Launch Control Centre’ at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre which contributed to the successful launch from Sriharikota. (2023)
Q. What is the LUPEX mission?
A. LUPEX stands for Lunar Polar Exploration Mission. It is India’s fifth lunar mission (Chandrayaan-5), a joint ISRO-JAXA project to explore the Moon’s south pole for water ice.
Q. Who is building the lander and rover for LUPEX?
A. ISRO (India) will develop the lunar lander, and JAXA (Japan) will develop the rover for the LUPEX mission.
Q. When and how will LUPEX launch?
A. Chandrayaan-5 (LUPEX) is slated for launch around 2027–28, most likely on Japan’s H3 heavy-lift rocket.
Q. What are LUPEX’s main objectives?
A. To map and analyze the presence of water and ice in the lunar south polar region by drilling the surface regolith and performing in-situ spectroscopic analysis.
Q. How long will the LUPEX mission operate?
A. The mission is planned to operate for about 100 days on the Moon (3.5 months) initially, with the possibility of extension up to one year.
LUPEX (Lunar Polar Exploration mission) is a high-impact topic for UPSC, combining India’s lunar science goals with international collaboration. It exemplifies India’s step-by-step Moon program – from Chandrayaan landers to sample returns and ultimately human missions. By understanding LUPEX’s objectives, partners, and timeline, aspirants can link this mission to broader themes of space technology and diplomacy. For example, related initiatives such as India’s HOPE analog mission (simulating lunar habitats on Earth) also reinforce the country’s lunar exploration strategy. In sum, LUPEX underscores India’s push in space exploration and resource utilization, making it a relevant and rich subject for both Prelims and Mains answers.
Internal Linking Suggestions
How to Begin Your UPSC Preparation : The Ultimate Guide For Beginners
UPSC Previous Year Question Papers with Answers PDF - Prelims & Mains (2014-2024)
40 Most Important Supreme Court Judgements of India : Landmark Judgements UPSC
External Linking Suggestions
UPSC Official Website – Syllabus & Notification: https://upsc.gov.in/
Press Information Bureau – Government Announcements: https://pib.gov.in/
NCERT Official Website – Standard Books for UPSC: https://ncert.nic.in
UPSC Notification 2025 was released on 22nd January 2025.
UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 and Unofficial Prelims Answer Key 2025 are available now.
UPSC Calendar 2026 is released on 15th May, 2025.
The UPSC Vacancy 2025 were released 1129, out of which 979 were for UPSC CSE and remaining 150 are for UPSC IFoS.
UPSC Mains 2025 will be conducted on 22nd August 2025.
UPSC Prelims 2026 will be conducted on 24th May, 2026 & UPSC Mains 2026 will be conducted on 21st August 2026.
The UPSC Selection Process is of 3 stages-Prelims, Mains and Interview.
UPSC Result 2024 is released with latest UPSC Marksheet 2024. Check Now!
UPSC Toppers List 2024 is released now. Shakti Dubey is UPSC AIR 1 2024 Topper.
