India and Japan have advanced their joint Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission into the preliminary design phase. The mission, a collaboration between ISRO and JAXA, aims to explore the Moon’s south pole to study the presence of water and other volatiles, laying the foundation for future lunar habitation and scientific exploration.

Key Points:

• The LUPEX mission, also referred to as Chandrayaan-5, is expected to launch in 2027–28 using Japan's H3 rocket.
• ISRO will develop the lander, while JAXA will provide a 350 kg rover equipped with seven scientific instruments for surface and subsurface analysis.
• The mission will focus on detecting water ice near the lunar south pole, with a planned duration of about 100 days.
• The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA will also contribute payloads, enhancing the mission’s international significance.
• LUPEX is part of ISRO’s broader lunar roadmap, which includes Chandrayaan-4 and a proposed crewed Moon mission by 2040.