The term Chandrayaan-5 refers to a planned international space mission, officially known as the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX). It is a joint lunar exploration project between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The mission is a follow-on to the successful Chandrayaan-3, which established India's capability for a soft landing near the lunar south pole in August 2023. The primary purpose of the mission is to conduct in-situ scientific experiments to study lunar water and water-ice in the surface and subsurface regions of the Moon's south pole.
The mission was approved by the Government of India in March 2025, formalizing the collaboration under the LUPEX framework. The mechanism involves a collaborative development: ISRO is responsible for developing the high-capacity lander module, while JAXA is developing the larger, 250-350 kg rover. The mission is targeted for launch in 2028 aboard Japan's H3 rocket. The spacecraft is designed to operate on the lunar surface for a duration of 100 days. It will carry seven scientific instruments, including payloads contributed by international partners like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA).
Chandrayaan-5 connects to the broader Chandrayaan programme, which is an ongoing series of lunar missions by ISRO. It is preceded by the planned Chandrayaan-4 mission, which is an uncrewed lunar sample-return mission. The international collaboration on LUPEX marks a strategic shift from ISRO's traditionally self-reliant launch capabilities, as it utilizes a foreign launch system, the H3 rocket. The mission's focus on water-ice is crucial for future human exploration and resource utilization on the Moon.