11:30 AM - 11:45 AM
[PPS09-09] Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) Mission: Project Status and Beyond
Keywords:Lunar Polar Exploration, LUPEX, Water resource, ISRU, Lunar rover
In recent years, the publication of a series of observation results suggesting the possibility of the existence of water on the Moon has triggered a flurry of lunar exploration programs by countries around the world and by the private sector. One of these programs is the U.S.-led Artemis program, which has the long-term goal of establishing sustained human exploration activities on the Moon, laying the groundwork for private enterprise to build a lunar economy, and ultimately sending humans to Mars. As of Feb. 15, 2024, 35 countries had signed the Artemis Accord [1], which stipulates principles for the implementation of the Artemis program, and which the Japanese government signed in October 2020. Joint Exploration Declaration of Intent for Lunar Cooperation (JEDI) [2], which was signed between the U.S. and Japanese governments in the same year, states that the parties will discuss installing National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) payloads on JAXA’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon and Lunar Polar Exploration missions as well as the proposal for JAXA payloads to be considered for installation on NASA’s lunar exploration missions. The parties plan to share observation data obtained through such cooperation.
LUnar Polar EXploration (LUPEX) is the Japan’s first project to explore the lunar polar regions using a rover. In JAXA's lunar exploration scenario, SLIM has successfully demonstrated high-precision-point landing technology on the lunar surface, and LUPEX will acquire water resource data and demonstrate exploration technology for activities on the surface of a gravitational body. These results will contribute to the future lunar missions, such as a crew pressurized rover, In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) pilot plants for hydrogen production and construction of a manned base, which consists of, for example, lunar propellant plants and habitation facilities. LUPEX is also introduced in the scenario [3] created by the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG), a group that coordinates strategies for international space exploration among space agencies, along with the lunar explorers of each country.
LUPEX is an international cooperative mission in which JAXA is responsible for the development of the Rover and procurement of the launch vehicle, and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is responsible for the development of the Lander. NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) will provide mission instruments to the rover as well as ISRO will.
Exploration of the lunar polar regions is international cooperation and competition. LUPEX has the following four advantages over other countries' missions.
(1) Direct measurement of water content, i.e., thermogravimetric analysis in a closed system to determine water content and molecular weight and species.
(2) High-precision vertical exploration, i.e., local vertical sampling of samples that cannot be obtained by optical observation of excavated soil.
(3) Horizontal exploration of diverse environments, i.e., wheels with high travers-ability and hill climbing ability to cope with the complex terrain of the lunar polar regions.
(4) Survivability, i.e., long-time observation in non-sunlit areas and nighttime performance by thin-film solar cells and high-performance battery cells.
This presentation introduces the mission objectives of LUPEX, international roles and responsibilities, an overview of the spacecraft, the progress of the project, and the applications and outcomes of the technologies demonstrated and acquired in this mission.
[1] The Artemis Accords, Principles for Cooperation in the Civil Exploration and Use of the Moon, Mars, Comets, and Asteroids for Peaceful Purposes
[2] Joint Exploration Declaration of Intent for Lunar Cooperation (JEDI) between MEXT of Japan and NASA of U.S.A., Section 2, A).
[3] The International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG): Global Exploration Map Supplement, Figure 1, Page 2, Aug. 2020.
LUnar Polar EXploration (LUPEX) is the Japan’s first project to explore the lunar polar regions using a rover. In JAXA's lunar exploration scenario, SLIM has successfully demonstrated high-precision-point landing technology on the lunar surface, and LUPEX will acquire water resource data and demonstrate exploration technology for activities on the surface of a gravitational body. These results will contribute to the future lunar missions, such as a crew pressurized rover, In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) pilot plants for hydrogen production and construction of a manned base, which consists of, for example, lunar propellant plants and habitation facilities. LUPEX is also introduced in the scenario [3] created by the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG), a group that coordinates strategies for international space exploration among space agencies, along with the lunar explorers of each country.
LUPEX is an international cooperative mission in which JAXA is responsible for the development of the Rover and procurement of the launch vehicle, and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is responsible for the development of the Lander. NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) will provide mission instruments to the rover as well as ISRO will.
Exploration of the lunar polar regions is international cooperation and competition. LUPEX has the following four advantages over other countries' missions.
(1) Direct measurement of water content, i.e., thermogravimetric analysis in a closed system to determine water content and molecular weight and species.
(2) High-precision vertical exploration, i.e., local vertical sampling of samples that cannot be obtained by optical observation of excavated soil.
(3) Horizontal exploration of diverse environments, i.e., wheels with high travers-ability and hill climbing ability to cope with the complex terrain of the lunar polar regions.
(4) Survivability, i.e., long-time observation in non-sunlit areas and nighttime performance by thin-film solar cells and high-performance battery cells.
This presentation introduces the mission objectives of LUPEX, international roles and responsibilities, an overview of the spacecraft, the progress of the project, and the applications and outcomes of the technologies demonstrated and acquired in this mission.
[1] The Artemis Accords, Principles for Cooperation in the Civil Exploration and Use of the Moon, Mars, Comets, and Asteroids for Peaceful Purposes
[2] Joint Exploration Declaration of Intent for Lunar Cooperation (JEDI) between MEXT of Japan and NASA of U.S.A., Section 2, A).
[3] The International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG): Global Exploration Map Supplement, Figure 1, Page 2, Aug. 2020.