India and Japan Gear Up for Ambitious Chandrayaan-5 Lunar Mission: A Deep Dive into Water Ice Exploration
India and Japan are joining forces for the ambitious Chandrayaan-5 mission, also known as LUPEX (Lunar Polar Exploration), setting their sights on unraveling the mysteries of water and water-ice on the Moon. This collaborative project between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) marks a significant step towards deeper lunar exploration.
The two space agencies are about to enter the preliminary design phase for the lander and rover, aiming to launch the 6.5-tonne spacecraft aboard a Japanese H3 rocket around 2027-28. This mission follows India's historic Chandrayaan-3, which achieved the first soft landing near the Moon's south pole.
"The instrument selections have been done, the engineering model testing is almost done and both India and Japan are entering the preliminary design phase," stated Asoh Dai, Project Manager, LUPEX, at JAXA. The 350kg rover will be equipped with seven scientific instruments, some contributed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, focusing on analyzing the lunar surface and subsurface for water content and quality.
Chandrayaan-5 aims to study lunar volatile materials, including lunar water, near the Permanently Shadowed Region (PSR) in the lunar South pole. JAXA's rover will traverse the lunar landscape, drilling into the regolith to collect samples. Onboard instruments will then analyze these samples to measure water content and other properties, providing crucial *in-situ* observations.
ISRO is developing the lander for Chandrayaan-5, while JAXA is responsible for the rover. Dai mentioned that one of the seven instruments will feature four sensors, one developed by ISRO and the other three by JAXA. The rover will be designed to navigate challenging terrains, climbing hills with inclinations up to 25 degrees. The rover's batteries will be charged before and after sample collection, adding to the mission's complexity.
Speaking at the Global Space Exploration conference in New Delhi, ISRO chief V Narayanan noted the mission duration is projected for 3.5 months (100 days). Additionally, Narayanan revealed ambitious plans for ISRO to send humans to the Moon by 2040, signaling a long-term commitment to lunar exploration.
The mission has already overcome key milestones. ISRO and JAXA recently held their third face-to-face Technical Interface Meeting in Bengaluru. Discussions encompassed technical interfaces, the joint mission implementation plan, and potential landing sites.
Looking ahead, Dai hopes to extend the LUPEX mission to the far side of the Moon, potentially adding a year to its lifespan. This ambitious goal underscores the collaborative spirit and the potential for groundbreaking discoveries.
Chandrayaan-5 represents a significant leap in lunar exploration, potentially unlocking valuable resources and furthering our understanding of the Moon's history and composition. What kind of new discoveries do you think Chandrayaan-5 will unearth? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
