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| Mission type | Orbiter lander rover |
|---|---|
| Operator | JAXA[1] |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Launch mass | 5,000 kg[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | Cancelled[2] |
| Rocket | H-IIA |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Selenocentric |
SELENE-2/ˈsɛlɪniː/, or theSelenological and Engineering Explorer 2, is a cancelledJapaneserobotic mission to theMoon that would have included anorbiter, alander and arover.[3] It was intended as a successor to the 2007SELENE (Kaguya) lunar orbiter.[4]
Instead of SELENE-2, JAXA is working with theIndian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to plan a joint mission called theLunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX).[5][6][7][8] The mission would send anuncrewedlunar lander androver to explore thesouth pole region of theMoon no earlier than 2026.[9] JAXA is likely to provide the under-developmentH3launch vehicle and the rover, while ISRO would be providing the lander.[10]
The lander would have targeted lava tubes and other permanently shadowed areas, which function as cold trap volatiles such as water. Water ice could be processed by future missions to produce spacecraft propellant (LOX/H2).[1]
The orbiter would have a mass of 700 kg.[3]
The lander would have a mass of 1,000 kg, and would be able to deliver up to 340 kg[1] of payload, including the rover. Its mission would last two weeks.[3]
The rover would have a mass of 100 kg, and it would operate for two weeks.
One optionJAXA was investigating in 2006, was to integrate a small data relay satellite and penetrators into the mission.[11]
For our next mission — Chandrayaan-3 — which will be accomplished in collaboration withJAXA (Japanese Space Agency), we will invite other countries too to participate with their payloads.