ISRO's Chandrayaan-4 to Land on Moon’s South Pole by 2027
ISRO to launch Chandrayaan-4 in 2027, aiming for a moon landing and sample return from the lunar south pole. A major step in India’s space exploration.
image for illustrative purpose
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for its next major lunar exploration, Chandrayaan-4, which aims to land on the moon's south pole and bring back soil and rock samples to Earth. The mission, set for a 2027 launch, marks a significant shift in ISRO’s approach to lunar exploration.
The Chandrayaan-4 mission will deploy a five-module system, differing from ISRO's previous lunar missions. Two Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM-3) rockets will lift off separately, carrying different modules into space. Once in lunar orbit, the modules will dock and work together to execute the scientific objectives.
According to ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, the mission’s primary goal is to collect and return lunar surface samples, a milestone for India’s space program. The retrieved samples will be analyzed to provide insights into the moon’s composition, geological history, and potential resources.
Unlike previous missions, Chandrayaan-4 will not be launched as a single unit. Instead, its components will be launched in phases before assembling in orbit. The total estimated cost for the mission is Rs 2,104.06 crore. This budget covers spacecraft development, the two LVM-3 rockets, continuous communication systems, and design validation processes.
A 9,200-kg satellite will be a key component of the mission, housing the scientific instruments required for lunar analysis. The modules will conduct research on the lunar surface, with one module specifically tasked with retrieving and returning samples to Earth.
Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the moon in 2023, providing crucial data on surface minerals, thermal conditions, electron clouds, and seismic activity. Building on that success, Chandrayaan-4 is expected to push scientific exploration further by physically bringing lunar materials to Earth for detailed study.
Scientists are hopeful that the mission will contribute to global lunar research and support future deep-space exploration. With the moon’s south pole holding the potential for water ice and valuable minerals, the findings from Chandrayaan-4 could shape future lunar missions.
