The Chandrayaan-4 mission, also known as LUPEX, is a collaborative effort between ISRO and JAXA, aimed at studying the presence, quality, and quantity of water on the Moon. Following the Chandrayaan-3 mission, this marks a significant advancement for the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), as NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) join forces to enhance lunar water research.
Scheduled for launch in 2025, Chandrayaan-4 has garnered attention for its inclusive approach, with NASA contributing the Neuron Spectrometer (NS) and ESA providing the Exospheric Mass Spectrometer for LUPEX (EMS-L). JAXA and ISRO are actively developing key payloads, reflecting the collective expertise involved in this mission.
The primary objective is to deepen our understanding of lunar water resources, a critical aspect for future space exploration. Success in this mission could pave the way for global space agencies to embark on exploration missions to more distant planets and assess the potential for habitability on the Moon.
This collaborative endeavor signifies a substantial leap for ISRO, demonstrating their growing role in broader international space projects. The rover, under development by JAXA, and the lander, being crafted by ISRO, underscore the joint efforts to ensure the mission’s success.
While details about the mission are yet to be fully disclosed, the involvement of multiple space agencies and their respective instruments emphasizes the comprehensive approach taken to unravel the mysteries of lunar water. The Chandrayaan-4 mission holds promise for advancing scientific knowledge and expanding the possibilities for future space exploration endeavors.