Chandrayaan-4: ISRO's ambitious lunar mission to collect Moon samples by 2027

ISRO's Chandrayaan-4 mission is poised to be its most complex lunar endeavor, aiming to collect samples from the Moon's surface and return them to Earth.

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan emphasized, “Chandrayaan-4 will be ISRO’s most complex and ambitious lunar mission so far.” The mission is part of a broader strategy that includes the upcoming Chandrayaan-5, developed in partnership with Japan's JAXA.

Narayanan stated that 2027 will be a defining moment for India's space exploration, coinciding with the first human spaceflight under the Gaganyaan program. He noted, “Right now, we (ISRO) are also working on Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5.”

The agency is also advancing plans for a 50-tonne space station, with the first module expected to launch by March-April 2028. Narayanan highlighted ISRO's commitment to various sectors, including food and water security, while maintaining a fleet of 57 operational satellites for public service.

As ISRO continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, the upcoming missions promise to enhance India's position in the global space community.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch Chandrayaan-4 by 2027, marking its first lunar sample return mission. This ambitious project aims to collect and return samples from the Moon's surface, alongside the planned Chandrayaan-5 mission in collaboration with Japan.