SpaceMiningData
InstrumentMoonIn development

LUNAR-RABBIT water and metal-element exploration instruments (University of Tokyo)

University of Tokyo-led project, funded through JAXA's Space Strategy Fund, to develop flight models of four instruments (a wide-angle spectral camera, a neutron and gamma-ray sensor, a laser-induced plasma emission spectrometer and a microscopic spectral camera) that would measure the concentrations of major elements and the mineral composition, including water ice, on the lunar surface. JAXA's project page lists the selection notice and publication date as 10 October 2025; the university says the grant decision was made on 10 February 2026. No lander, host mission or flight date is named.

Objective. Measure on the lunar surface the concentrations of major elements needed for resource exploration (such as H, Fe, Ti, Al, Mg, Ca, Si, K and Na) and mineral composition (such as water ice and ilmenite), at resolutions of up to 10 micrometres according to the project description.

This is one instrument. Its evidence and outcome are its own and are not the carrier mission's result.

Targeted

Facts

Kind
Instrument
Carried by
Not recorded
Mission type
Prospecting
Target
MoonNo map point: No host mission or landing site is recorded.
Launch
Not recorded
Phase
In developmentIn development: the University of Tokyo reports that the grant was decided on 10 February 2026 and that the LUNAR-RABBIT project is starting. JAXA's description says the plan period covers development of the flight instruments through a lunar demonstration and data acquisition; that is a plan, not a scheduled flight.
Outcome
Not applicable
Why it is included
Stated resource objective

What comes next

No planned launch or landing date is recorded.

Participants

Operators, payload owners, carriers and customers are recorded separately.

OrganizationRole
The University of TokyoPayload owner
Japan Aerospace Exploration AgencyFunder

Resources and evidence

ResourceEvidence
Water iceTargeted
Metals (general)Targeted

Dated events

  1. 2026-02-10

    JAXA Space Strategy Fund grant decision for the University of Tokyo's LUNAR-RABBIT instruments

    GrantThe University of TokyoWith LUNAR-RABBIT water and metal-element exploration instruments (University of Tokyo), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

    The University of Tokyo reports that a grant under JAXA's Space Strategy Fund (second round) was decided on 10 February 2026 for its project to develop flight models of water and metal-element exploration instruments and to measure lunar resource amounts. JAXA's project page lists the selection notice and publication date separately, as 10 October 2025. No amount is stated.

    Sources (5) and evidence gaps
    1. [1]宇宙戦略基金事業（第二期）「月面インフラ構築に資する要素技術」交付決定
      University of Tokyo, Department of Earth and Planetary ScienceCompany statementPublished 2026-02-10Accessed 2026-10-31Supports: date, summary
      本事業において、2026年2月10 日に交付が決定しました
      Quote matched the source text when accessed.
    2. [2]宇宙戦略基金事業（第二期）「月面インフラ構築に資する要素技術」交付決定
      University of Tokyo, Department of Earth and Planetary ScienceCompany statementPublished 2026-02-10Accessed 2026-10-31Supports: counterparty, summary
      国立研究開発法人宇宙航空研究開発機構（JAXA）が公募する「宇宙戦略基金事業（第二期）」
      Quote matched the source text when accessed.
    3. [3]水・金属元素探査装置のフライトモデル開発と月面資源量の実測 (selected project)
      JAXA Space Strategy FundGovernment recordAccessed 2026-10-31Supports: summary, status explanation
      採択通知・公表日 2025-10-10
      Quote matched the source text when accessed.
    4. [4]水・金属元素探査装置のフライトモデル開発と月面資源量の実測 (selected project)
      JAXA Space Strategy FundGovernment recordAccessed 2026-10-31Supports: organizations or records involved
      代表機関名 国立大学法人東京大学
      Quote matched the source text when accessed.
    5. [5]水・金属元素探査装置のフライトモデル開発と月面資源量の実測 (selected project)
      JAXA Space Strategy FundGovernment recordAccessed 2026-10-31Supports: resources
      資源探査に必要な主要元素(H，Fe，Ti，Al，Mg，Ca，Si，K，Naなど)の濃度と鉱物組成（水氷、チタン鉄鉱、輝石、カンラン石など）を月面で最高10µmの分解能で計測する
      Quote matched the source text when accessed.
    • No grant amount or currency is stated in the sources reviewed.

Open evidence gaps

  • No lander, host mission, launch date or landing site is named.
  • No grant amount is stated in the sources reviewed.
  • The 10-micrometre resolution is the project's stated measurement objective, not a measured result.
  • The University of Tokyo lists collaborating institutions (renkei kikan), including Ritsumeikan, Kyoto University and Topcon, separately from cooperating institutions (kyoryoku kikan), which include ispace and Obayashi. No lander, transport or contract role is stated for ispace or Obayashi, so neither is recorded as a participant.

Sources

11 excerpts from 3 publications

One web address counts as one publication.

  1. [1]水・金属元素探査装置のフライトモデル開発と月面資源量の実測 (selected project)
    JAXA Space Strategy FundGovernment recordAccessed 2026-10-31Supports: name, summary
    事業名：水・金属元素探査装置のフライトモデル開発と月面資源量の実測
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  2. [2]水・金属元素探査装置のフライトモデル開発と月面資源量の実測 (selected project)
    JAXA Space Strategy FundGovernment recordAccessed 2026-10-31Supports: objective, resources
    資源探査に必要な主要元素(H，Fe，Ti，Al，Mg，Ca，Si，K，Naなど)の濃度と鉱物組成（水氷、チタン鉄鉱、輝石、カンラン石など）を月面で最高10µmの分解能で計測する
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  3. [3]水・金属元素探査装置のフライトモデル開発と月面資源量の実測 (selected project)
    JAXA Space Strategy FundGovernment recordAccessed 2026-10-31Supports: status explanation, phase, open evidence gaps
    計画期間中に装置のフライト品の開発から月面実証・データ取得までを行う
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  4. [4]水・金属元素探査装置のフライトモデル開発と月面資源量の実測 (selected project)
    JAXA Space Strategy FundGovernment recordAccessed 2026-10-31Supports: summary, mission unit
    装置は、広角分光カメラ、中性子・ガンマ線センサ、レーザー誘起プラズマ発光分光計、顕微分光カメラからなる
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  5. [5]水・金属元素探査装置のフライトモデル開発と月面資源量の実測 (selected project)
    JAXA Space Strategy FundGovernment recordAccessed 2026-10-31Supports: summary
    採択通知・公表日 2025-10-10
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  6. [6]水・金属元素探査装置のフライトモデル開発と月面資源量の実測 (selected project)
    JAXA Space Strategy FundGovernment recordAccessed 2026-10-31Supports: participants
    代表機関名 国立大学法人東京大学
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  7. [7]宇宙戦略基金事業（第二期）「月面インフラ構築に資する要素技術」交付決定
    University of Tokyo, Department of Earth and Planetary ScienceCompany statementPublished 2026-02-10Accessed 2026-10-31Supports: summary, status explanation
    本事業において、2026年2月10 日に交付が決定しました
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  8. [8]宇宙戦略基金事業（第二期）「月面インフラ構築に資する要素技術」交付決定
    University of Tokyo, Department of Earth and Planetary ScienceCompany statementPublished 2026-02-10Accessed 2026-10-31Supports: name, status explanation
    『LUNAR-RABBITプロジェクト』が始動します
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  9. [9]宇宙戦略基金事業（第二期）「月面インフラ構築に資する要素技術」交付決定
    University of Tokyo, Department of Earth and Planetary ScienceCompany statementPublished 2026-02-10Accessed 2026-10-31Supports: participants, summary
    国立研究開発法人宇宙航空研究開発機構（JAXA）が公募する「宇宙戦略基金事業（第二期）」
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  10. [10]宇宙戦略基金事業（第二期）「月面インフラ構築に資する要素技術」交付決定
    University of Tokyo, Graduate School of ScienceCompany statementPublished 2026-02-10Accessed 2026-10-31Supports: open evidence gaps
    連携機関：学校法人立命館、国立大学法人京都大学、株式会社トプコン、
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  11. [11]宇宙戦略基金事業（第二期）「月面インフラ構築に資する要素技術」交付決定
    University of Tokyo, Graduate School of ScienceCompany statementPublished 2026-02-10Accessed 2026-10-31Supports: open evidence gaps
    国立研究開発法人日本原子力研究開発機構、株式会社ispace、株式会社大林組
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.

Cite this record

SpaceMiningData, “LUNAR-RABBIT water and metal-element exploration instruments (University of Tokyo)”, dataset version a00fa2c68a45, built 2026-11-11, https://spaceminingdata.com/missions/university-of-tokyo-lunar-rabbit.html. Record checked 2026-10-31.