Chandrayaan-4 to Test Safe Return from Moon

Last week, India revealed its plans for four space missions: one to the planet Venus, one to the Moon, one to create an Indian Space Station, and a fourth to transport Indians to and from the Moon. All of these missions are scheduled to be completed by 2040. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s union cabinet approved Chandrayaan-4, a project that will show off the technologies needed for a successful return to Earth after gathering samples from the Moon.

The technological foundation for an Indian astronaut’s future lunar landing and safe return to Earth will come from the Chandrayaan-4 mission. The government has allocated Rs 2,104.96 crore for the technology demonstration project known as “Chandrayaan-4.” By 2035, India will also have its own space station, known as the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, or Indian Space Station.

Taking Control of the Lunar South Pole with Chandrayaan-4

With a budget of about $253 million (21 billion rupees), the Chandrayaan-4 mission is intended to gather samples from the lunar surface in the south pole region, namely in the vicinity of the Shiv Shakti point, which is home to the now-defunct Chandrayaan-3 lander.This region is deemed significant because it may contain water ice, which is an essential resource for future space missions that will support both the manufacturing of rocket fuel and human nourishment. The LVM-3 rocket will be launched twice as part of the⁠ mission.

While the second will launch a transfer module and a return module that will stay in lunar orbit, the first will carry a lander and an ascent vehicle to gather the samples.

Following sample collection, the ascending vehicle will depart from the Moon’s surface. Then transport the samples to the return module, and ultimately return them to Earth. Anil Bhardwaj of the Physical Research Laboratory claims that this mission’s technical difficulties include launching from the lunar surface and overcoming our satellite’s gravity to ensure a safe return to Earth. Making it one of the most difficult ones that ISRO has ever undertaken.

Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), the Future Indian Space Station

The creation of the first module of the future Indian space station named the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS-1). It is one of the most ambitious projects that have been approved. The first module is expected to launch in December 2028, and the station is expected to be operational by 2035. This project offers new prospects for scientific and technological study. It is a significant step towards an autonomous and ongoing Indian presence in space.

After permission, the Chandrayaan-4 mission is anticipated to be finished in 36 months. Industry involvement in the mission will contribute to the creation of high-potential jobs and positive economic spinoffs from technology.

Additionally, the mission will provide India with the necessary space technologies to be self-sufficient. In order to carry out human flights and exploration research. Through meetings and workshops, Isro has already started conversations about tying industry partners and academic institutions into the Chandrayaan-4 project.