Chandrayaan-4 Approved: India's Moon Sample Return Mission

Mission Overview and Objectives

• Cabinet approves Chandrayaan-4 mission, led by ISRO
• Aim: Demonstrate technology  to return to Earth after moon landing
• Collect and analyze lunar samples on Earth
• Part of India's expanded space vision for Amrit Kaal
• Foundational step towards Indian moon landing by 2040
• Builds on success of Chandrayaan-3's soft landing

Key Technologies and Capabilities

Develop critical technologies for:

• • Docking and undocking
  • Safe landing on the moon
  • Secure return to Earth
  • Lunar sample collection and analysis
• All critical technologies to be indigenously developed
• Involvement of Indian industry and academia
• Establish facilities for curation and analysis of returned samples

Mission Details and Timeline

• ISRO responsible for spacecraft development and launch
• Expected completion within 36 months of approval
• Plan to associate academia through science meets and workshops
• Total budget allocation: Rs. 2104.06 Crore

Includes:

• • Spacecraft development and realization
  • Two LVM3 launch vehicle missions
  • External deep space network support
  • Special tests for design validation

Broader Vision and Impact

• Part of India's expanded space program vision:
  • Indian Space Station (Bharatiya Antariksh Station) by 2035
  • Indian moon landing by 2040
• Follows series of Gaganyaan and Chandrayaan missions
• Aims to make India self-sufficient in manned missions and lunar exploration
• Potential for high employment generation
• Technology spin-offs to other economic sectors
• Positions India among few nations with lunar sample return capability