By R Anil Kumar
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“After Chandrayaan-3’s historic soft landing near the Moon’s south pole, which brought glory to our nation, we are now working on Chandrayaan-4, a sample-return mission. We aim to land, collect samples, and bring them back to Earth,” Dr. Narayanan stated
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Chandrayaan-4 will be ISRO’s most complex and ambitious lunar mission
Bengaluru. “ISRO is preparing itself for its next mission — Chandrayaan-4. Under this mission, its endeavour will be to collect lunar surface samples and return with the samples to Earth, which will later be used for various experiments. It will give an insight into the understanding of lunar geology,” said Dr. V Narayanan, Chairman ISRO.
“The year 2027 is going to be a defining year in India’s space journey. The country is preparing for two missions — Chandrayaan-4 and the first human spaceflight under the Gaganyaan Programme,” he said.
The ISRO chief said: “India will showcase its technologies such as precision landing, sample collection, lift off from the lunar surface, docking and undocking in lunar orbit, mid-space sample transfer and return to earth. The mission will focus on four modules: transfer, lander, ascender and re-entry.”
India’s space exploration ambitions have reached new heights as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) sets its sights on two ground breaking lunar missions: Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5.
This was said by ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan, underscoring the nation’s commitment to advancing its space capabilities.
India’s space ambitions continue to soar as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) gears up for its next major lunar mission, Chandrayaan-4. This landmark mission aims to collect samples from the Moon’s surface and bring them back to Earth — a first for the nation’s space programme.
Chandrayaan-4 marks a significant leap for India, aiming to collect and return lunar surface samples to Earth for the first time in the country’s history.
The mission will involve a sophisticated lunar landing, sample collection, and a safe return journey, promising to provide invaluable insights into the Moon’s geology and composition.
Such a sample return mission not only demonstrates India’s growing technological prowess but also opens new avenues for scientific research and future lunar exploration.
Simultaneously, ISRO is preparing for Chandrayaan-5, a collaborative mission with the Japanese space agency, JAXA. This mission is set to be even more ambitious, with a launch weight of 6,400 kilograms—significantly higher than Chandrayaan-3’s 5,000 kilograms.
One of the standout features of Chandrayaan-5 is its advanced rover, which will weigh 350 kilograms compared to the 25 kilograms of its predecessor.
This increase in size and capability will allow the rover to operate for up to 100 days on the lunar surface, a substantial improvement over the previous 14-day operational window. This extended lifespan will enable a more comprehensive exploration and analysis of the Moon’s surface, providing scientists with a wealth of data to further our understanding of Earth’s only natural satellite.
Dr. Narayanan emphasized that these missions are not only technological milestones but also symbols of national pride and progress.
He highlighted how each successive Chandrayaan mission has built upon the successes and lessons of its predecessors, with Chandrayaan-3’s historic soft landing near the Moon’s south pole serving as a springboard for even more ambitious objectives.
The collaboration with JAXA for Chandrayaan-5 also reflects India’s growing stature as a key player in the global space community, fostering international partnerships that will drive innovation and discovery.
ISRO’s ongoing work on Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5 represents a bold new chapter in India’s space journey. These missions will not only advance scientific knowledge and technological capability but also inspire a new generation of Indian scientists, engineers, and dreamers.
As India continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, its achievements are set to leave a lasting impact on the global stage, reinforcing the nation’s position as a leader in the quest to unlock the mysteries of the cosmos.
On the Gaganyaan Mission, India’s first human space flight programme, the ISRO chief said two more uncrewed missions will be launched before Indian astronauts are sent to space in the first quarter of 2027.
On Operation Sindoor, the scientist said ISRO is committed to providing security to all its citizens and required support to the Indian Army during its operations. “We cannot reveal much about it. There are 26 operational satellites providing the required inputs,” said Narayanan.
On the issue of visitingCentral Tool Room and Training Centre (CTTC), he said: “We are proud to collaborate with CTTC. It provides us with the key components for various projects. We are also in collaboration with 450 industries across the country.”
Major components of the modules of the lunar mission Chandrayaan-2 and 3, including solar array drive assemblies (SADA) to help the solar panels of the orbiter and lander, momentum wheel assembly (MWA), reaction wheel assembly (RWA), dynamically funded gyroscope (DTG), ISRO Laser gyroscope (ILG), mini advanced inertial navigation system (AINS) and rate gyro electronic package device (RGPD), were manufactured at the CTTC.
