Building on recent lunar milestones, India is preparing to take its space programme a step further with an ambitious scientific goal that few nations have achieved.
India’s next lunar mission, Chandrayaan-4, is designed to collect soil and rock samples from the Moon and return them safely to Earth. The mission follows the success of Chandrayaan-3 and marks a major leap in India’s space exploration journey. It will be a full sample-return operation, placing India among a small group of countries capable of completing such complex missions.
The Chandrayaan-4 mission will be carried out in 3 critical stages. It will include a landing module, an ascent module, and a return module. Each phase must function in perfect sequence, as even a minor failure could put the entire mission at risk. The spacecraft is expected to launch from the Sriharikota space centre, although the exact launch date has not yet been announced.
The mission is likely to target a landing site near the Moon’s south pole. This region is considered highly valuable for scientific research, as it may contain frozen water and ancient materials. These findings could offer insights into the Moon’s early formation and history. ISRO’s Special Projects Director P Veeramuthuvel said the mission aims to “further understand the moon within situ sample collection” using indigenous technology.
After a soft landing on the lunar surface, Chandrayaan-4 will deploy a robotic system to collect soil and rock samples. The collected material will be sealed in special containers. An ascent vehicle will then lift the samples from the Moon and dock with a return module orbiting above. This return module will travel back to Earth and withstand extreme heat during atmospheric re-entry.
Chandrayaan-4 is an important part of ISRO’s long-term space roadmap, which also includes plans for building a space station. A successful sample-return mission could open doors to global scientific partnerships and international collaboration. It would also strengthen India’s standing among leading spacefaring nations and reinforce its growing role in lunar exploration.
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