Lunar Exploration
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.
Orbital Attempt
#7,471
MHI Mission
#63
Pad Launch
#23
Location Launch
#104
Dec 31, 2026, 12:00 AM
Year
1 update
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.
Length
63 m
Diameter
5.27 m
Thrust
12,142 kN
GTO Capacity
7,900 kg
Launch Cost
$50M
Reusable
No
Maiden Flight
2025
Total Launches
1
Successful
1
Failed
0
Consecutive Success
1
Maiden flight: Oct 26, 2025
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. is a Japanese multinational engineering, electrical equipment and electronics company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. MHI is one of the core companies of the Mitsubishi Group. MHI's products include aerospace components, air conditioners, aircraft, automotive components, forklift trucks, hydraulic equipment, machine tools, missiles, power generation equipment, printing machines, ships and space launch vehicles. Through its defense-related activities, it is the world's 23rd-largest defense contractor measured by 2011 defense revenues and the largest based in Japan.
Founded
1884
Administrator
President: Seiji Izumisawa
Total Launches
56
Successful
54
Failed
2
Pending
9
Consecutive Success
0
The Tanegashima Space Center is the largest rocket-launch complex in Japan. It is located on the southeastern tip of Tanegashima, an island located south of Kyushu, an island and region and Japan. It was established in 1969 when the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) was formed, and is now run by JAXA. The activities that take place at TNSC include assembly, testing, launching, and tracking satellites, as well as rocket engine firing tests.
Timezone
Asia/Tokyo
Local Launch Time
Dec 31, 2026, 9:00 AM
Total Launches
97
Total Landings
0
Coordinates
30.4000, 130.9700