ISRO Chief S. Somanath recently discussed plans for Chandrayaan-4, marking a significant leap in India’s lunar exploration efforts. The mission is scheduled for 2027 and will focus on collecting 3-5 kg of lunar samples (soil and rocks) and safely returning them to Earth, a feat achieved by only three other countries (the U.S., the Soviet Union, and China). Chandrayaan-4 will be more complex than its predecessor, with multiple components including a lander, ascender, transfer module, and re-entry module.
The mission’s primary goals include performing a safe lunar landing, collecting and containerizing samples, launching back to orbit, and then successfully docking with a transfer module before returning to Earth. These objectives push the boundaries of ISRO’s engineering and scientific capabilities. Additionally, this project is viewed as a critical step towards future human lunar missions, with India aiming to land an astronaut on the Moon by 2040.
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