Produced by: Tarun Mishra
India’s National Space Commission has approved the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (Lupex), marking the country's fifth lunar mission, which will be conducted in collaboration with Japan.
Lupex is part of India's series of lunar missions aimed at developing the capability to send Indian astronauts to the Moon and bring them back safely.
The Union cabinet recently approved Chandrayaan-4 on September 18, and Lupex is expected to seek similar cabinet approval soon, although the National Space Commission has already authorized ISRO to proceed with the mission's development.
The Lupex mission will focus on exploring the Moon for water and other resources, as well as enhancing technical expertise in lunar surface exploration.
After the successful soft-landing of Chandrayaan-3, ISRO re-engineered the Lupex spacecraft design to incorporate features necessary for future human landings on the Moon.
A new lander engine, crucial for future human missions, is being developed by ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) as part of the Lupex mission.
ISRO chairman S. Somanath indicated that both Chandrayaan-4 and Lupex will be developed in parallel, with plans for Chandrayaan-5 to follow closely after, continuing the series of lunar exploration missions.