LUPEX will be a precursor to the country’s lunar sample return mission and for sending the first Indian to the moon by 2040.
About LUPEX Mission
- Purpose: It will investigate the quantity and quality of water on the Moon and is envisaged to explore the dark side of the moon.
- Dark side of the moon refers to the ‘Far side’ of the moon as it never visible from the Earth due to the ‘Tidal Locking’ of the Moon with the Earth.
- International collaborative project: ISRO is in charge of the lunar rover and Japan’s JAXA is responsible for the lander.
- Observation instruments from NASA and the ESA will also be mounted on the rover.
- Landing Location: Landing point will be the south pole of the moon as this area is believed to have a high-water potential.
- However, landing on the south pole is challenging as there are very few flat, easy landing sites with good illumination and communication conditions.
- The successful landing of the Vikram Lander, onboard Chandrayaan 3, made India the first country to land on its south-pole and the 4th country to land on the Moon (after US, Russia and China).