Chandrayaan-4 Integrated Module' TheLAM of transfer module seen on top and itsre-entry cone is shown in golden brown. The ascender-lander-propulsion modules are seen beneath it in downward succession
Chandrayaan-4 (pronunciationⓘ; fromSanskrit:Chandra, "Moon" andyāna, "craft, vehicle") is a plannedlunarsample return mission ofISRO and the fourth iteration in itsChandrayaan programme.[2][3] As of January 2025, the conceptualisation phase has been completed, and the design phase is nearing completion.[4] The mission is expected to launch around 2028.[5] It is planned to return up to 3 kg (6.6 lb) of lunar regolith from nearShiv Shakti point, the landing site ofChandrayaan-3.[6]
The plan for a lunar sample return mission was revealed by the director of theSpace Application Centre (SAC),Nilesh M Desai on 17 November, 2023 during the 62nd foundation ceremony of theIndian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) inPune.[7] This was confirmed byS. Somanath, the then chairman of ISRO, during theNational Space Science Symposium held inGoa on 26 February 2024.[8] He said that the mission is extremely challenging as it incorporates multiple launches,docking capability androbotic capability. He expressed the confidence buildup over the success of 'hop' operation of the lander andEarth return operation performed by the propulsion module of Chandrayaan-3.[8][9] After the launch ofINSAT-3DS, the chairman stated the insufficiency of the rocket capability leading to a 'novel design' for this mission and the secretary of theDepartment of Space (DoS) said that the mission incorporates 'high-end technology' and it is pending government approval for him to have a final word.[2][10] Somanath stated that the mission demands docking capability both in Earth and lunar orbits and the agency is planning to demonstrate this capability throughSpace Docking Experiment (SPADEX) which is slated for launch by year end.[3][11]
On 20 August 2024, S. Somanath announced that theIndian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had completed the design of both Chandrayaan-4 andLUPEX,[12][13] and is now requesting approval from the government.[14]
On 13 February 2025, theMinister of Science and Technology,Jitendra Singh Rana, stated in theRajya Sabha that Chandrayaan-4 will be a foundational mission that will validate key technologies needed for a crewed lunar landing in 2040.[15][16] As of February 2025, ISRO is developing a number of subsystems, such as robotic arms for sample collection, specialized payloads, and a high-capacity propulsion system.[17] ISRO organised a research meet in April 2025 to deliberate on the scientific research that can be conducted with the lunar regolith within India.[4]
On 18 September 2024, Chandrayaan-4 received approval from theUnion Cabinet, chaired byPrime MinisterNarendra Modi for₹2,104.06crore (US$250 million) and is expected to be completed within 36 months.[18][19] The mission will have five modules that will be carried to space on two different launches. The mission is designed to land on the lunar surface, collect samples, store them in a vacuum-sealed container, and return them to Earth. The mission will also see docking and undocking — two spacecraft aligning and coming together in orbit.[20][21]
The aim of the mission is to collect samples from the lunar surface and bring the samples safely to Earth for scientific studies. The objectives of this mission are:
To perform a safe and soft landing on the lunar surface.
To demonstrate lunar sample collection and containerization.
To demonstrate ascent from the Moon's surface.
To demonstrate docking and undocking in lunar orbit.
To demonstrate the transfer of samples from one module to another.
To demonstrate return and re-entry to Earth for sample delivery.[8]
The mission will be launched in two phases onboard twoLVM3 rockets developed by ISRO. The spacecraft will include five modules packed into two composites, which will be launched separately, using two separateLVM 3 launch vehicles.[22]
The first launch is planned to carry the ascender module and descender module. The second launch would carry the transfer module, re-entry module, and propulsion module.[22]
The final spacecraft will be assembled into an integrated module by docking in Earth orbit before proceeding to the Moon.[8][3][23] This will be done via Earth-orbit docking maneuvers.
Propulsion Module is similar to the propulsion module on Chandrayaan-3. It will ferry the combined modular spacecraft to the moon.[24][25][5]
LanderModule will land on the Moon with instrumentation. It supports the ascent stage along with the soil sampling instrumentation. It is designed to last 1lunar day or 14 Earth days on the moon.[24][25][5]
AscenderModule will eject from the lander and launch from the Moon using the lander as a launch pad after the samples from the Moon are collected and stored. It will then enter low-lunar orbit.[24][25][5]
Transfer Module will collect the samples from the ascent stage, transfer them to the re-entry module, fire its engine to set both itself and the re-entry module towards Earth, release the payload and loop back around the Earth.[24][25][5]
It is planned that after touchdown, a robotic arm, mounted on the Lander Module, will scoop about 2-3 kg of samples from around the landing site and transfer them to a container on the Ascent Module. In addition, a drilling mechanism will collect sub-surface samples and transfer them to another container in the Ascent Module.[6]
Apart from the propulsion module, the transfer module is also equipped with an onboardLiquid Apogee Motor (LAM) for return operation manoeuvres, including thetrans-Earth injection. As per earlier reports, the lander module will have sixthrottleable landing thrusters capable of producing 800newtons of thrust each, while the ascender module will have two lift off thrusters capable of producing 800newtons of fixed thrust each.[26] The integrated assembly of all modules after docking in Earth orbit is expected to weigh at least 9,200 kg (20,300 lb).[26][17]
The landing site is planned near to Statio Shiv Shakti, the landing site of Chandrayaan-3 which is located between theManzinus P andBoguslawsky M lunar craters near to thesouth pole region.[27][28] ISRO had conducted comprehensive study of this landing site region regarding morphology, hydration and gravity anomalies using data obtained from payloads ofChandrayaan-2 orbiter,Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO),Lunar Prospector andGRAIL.[29][30]
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