The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has set its sights on the ambitious Chandrayaan-4 mission, which aims to retrieve soil samples from the lunar surface, following the triumph of its predecessor, Chandrayaan-3. The plan outlines a complex two-stage process involving technologies and modules to facilitate the return of significant lunar materials.
Building on the recent success of its first-ever moon landing, India aims to next pick up samples from the lunar south polar region and return them to Earth. Early reports suggest that the ISRO is planning a lunar sample-return mission known as Chandrayaan-4. This ambitious mission would entail sending a total of four modules to the moon across two launches in the next five to seven years.
The first phase of this endeavor would involve transporting a lander and an “ascender” to the moon’s surface to gather samples. This activity is set to take place near the landing site of the now-inactive Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, close to the lunar south pole, an area of significant international interest due to its perceived abundance of water ice, which scientists believe can be utilized for life support and rocket fuel.
The Chandrayaan-4 mission’s aim is to bring back a sample from the lunar surface, with the director of Space Applications Centre (SAC/ISRO), Ahmedabad, Nilesh Desai, stating that the mission is very ambitious, and the organization is hopeful of succeeding in retrieving lunar samples in the next five to seven years. Desai detailed that the developed landing and retrieval technology is projected to resemble that of the Chandrayaan-3, with the central module returning after docking with the orbiting module. The re-entry module would later separate near Earth’s atmosphere, carrying with it a sample of the moon’s soil and rock.
The Chandrayaan-4 mission, a significant leap in India’s space exploration efforts, holds promise for advancing scientific research and technological advancements through the retrieval of lunar materials for further analysis. With a focus on contributing to the global scientific community and establishing India’s achievements in space exploration, ISRO’s endeavors aim to propel the country’s standing in the international space arena.
