MHI H3-24 Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX)
H3-24
Status
TBD
Date
31 DEC 2026
00:00
Launch Provider
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Launch Pad
Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-2
Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Mission Overview
The Lunar Polar Exploration mission (LUPEX) is a robotic lunar mission jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), deploying a lunar rover and lander to explore the south pole region of the Moon. JAXA will provide the under-development H3 launch vehicle and the rover, while ISRO would be responsible for the lander.
Rocket
H3-24
Mission Type
Lunar Exploration
Orbit
Lunar Orbit
Stages
2
Livestream
Not availableRocket Details
The H3 Launch Vehicle is an expendable launch system in development in Japan. Each H3 booster configuration has a two-digit and a letter designation that indicates the features of that configuration. The first digit represents the number of LE-9 engines on the main stage, either "2" or "3". The second digit indicates the number of SRB-3 solid rocket boosters attached to the base of the rocket, and can be "0", "2" or "4". All layouts of solid boosters are symmetrical. The letter in the end shows the length of the payload fairing, either short "S" or long "L". For example, an H3-24L has two engines, four solid rocket boosters, and a long fairing, whereas an H3-30S has three engines, no solid rocket boosters, and a short fairing.
Height
63 m
Diameter
5.27 m
Thrust
12,142 kN