Context: India and Japan are working together on a joint lunar polar exploration (LUPEX) mission that aims to send a lander and rover to the Moon’s the South Pole around 2024.
LUPEX Mission

• The LUPEX is a robotic lunar mission concept by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
• It would send a lunar rover and lander to explore the South Pole region of the Moon in 2024.
• JAXA is likely to provide the under-development H3 launch vehicle and the rover, while ISRO would be responsible for the lander.
• The mission concept has not yet been formally proposed for funding and planning.
• 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.