Chandrayaan-4: Expected Launch Date, Mission Objectives and Spacecraft Details

In a significant step towards advancing lunar exploration, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is in the early stages of planning Chandrayaan-4, the latest instalment in its Chandrayaan programme. Designed as a lunar sample-return mission, Chandrayaan-4 marks the fourth endeavour in India's step forward in lunar exploration.

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During the 62nd Foundation Day celebration of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune on 17 November, 2023, Nilesh M. Desai, Director of the Space Applications Centre (SAC), unveiled plans for a mission aimed at returning samples from the Moon. Describing the mission as highly ambitious, Desai expressed hope that within the next five to seven years, the challenge of collecting and bringing back samples from the Moon's surface could be successfully achieved.

Read below to learn more about the expected launch date, mission objectives and spacecraft details of the Chandrayaan-4 mission.

Chandrayaan-4: Expected Launch Date

Currently in the conceptualization phase, the Chandrayaan-4 mission is expected to launch no earlier than 2028.

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Chandrayaan-4: Mission Objectives

The mission's primary goal is to safely retrieve samples from the Moon's surface and return them to Earth for detailed scientific analysis. Key objectives include:

• Executing a safe and controlled landing on the Moon.
• Showcasing the ability to collect and secure lunar samples.
• Demonstrating successful ascent from the lunar surface.
• Performing docking and undocking manoeuvres in lunar orbit.
• Showing how samples can be transferred between different modules.
• Ensuring the safe return and re-entry of the samples back to Earth.

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Chandrayaan-4: Spacecraft Details

As per a tweet by ISRO Spaceflight, the Chandryaan-4 mission will involve a PSLV & an LVM3 launch & consist of 5 modules - Ascender Module, Descender Module, Propulsion Module, Re-entry Module, and Transfer Module.

Ascender Module will liftoff from the lunar surface and reach orbit to dock with the transfer module.

Descender Module will perform the lunar landing.

Propulsion Module will perform the Earth-bound orbit raising burns and lunar orbit insertion burns.

Re-entry Module will safely land with the lunar samples on Earth.

Transfer Module will carry the lunar samples from the Moon back to Earth orbit.

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