Chandrayaan-4

Current Context: Chandrayaan-4, ISRO’s fourth lunar mission, is scheduled for launch in October 2027. It aims to achieve a landmark lunar sample return, advancing India’s space exploration capabilities.

About:

• Mission Objectives:
• Soft landing on the Moon’s southern polar region.
• Collection and return of lunar surface and sub-surface samples.

Launch Details:

• Two crafts, weighing 4,750 kg each, launched via two LVM3 rockets.
• Involves docking and undocking procedures in space.
• Funding: Allocated ₹2,104 crores (~$240 million).
• Significance: Places India alongside the USA, Russia, and China in lunar sample return missions.

Technological Innovations:

• Surface Sampling Robot and drilling mechanism for advanced sample collection.
• Five modules: Propulsion (PM), Transfer (TM), Re-entry (RM), Ascender (AM), and Descender (DM).
• Sample Return Process: DM collects samples, AM transfers them to orbit, and RM safely returns them to Earth.
• Future Implications: Prepares for manned lunar missions and boosts India’s space technology and employment.