India is set to launch the Chandrayaan -4 mission in 2027, with an important step in the country’s space exploration efforts. The aim of the mission is to collect samples from the moon and return them to Earth, the Minister of Science and Technology has confirmed.
The ambitious project will require at least two launch of the Heavylift LVM-3 rocket, which will carry five different components of the mission. These elements will be assembled in class before moving towards the moon. This will be India’s first attempt in a sample returns mission, which will carry forward the scientific and technical capabilities of the country in space research.
“Chandrayaan -4 mission aims to collect samples from the moon surface and bring them back to Earth,” Singh said in an interview with PTI video.
India’s Space Agency, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is a packed schedule for the coming years along with Chandrayaan -4. The much awaited Gaganian Mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts into a lower-class orbit, is slated for launch next year. Earlier, the first unkred test mission characterized by Humanoid Robot ‘Vyommitra’ will take place later this year.
In 2026, India will also adopt another groundbreaking effort, on the Samudran Mission. In this initiative, three scientists will descend to a depth of 6,000 meters in the deep ocean inside a specially designed submersible. The goal is to detect seabed, which can reveal valuable mineral resources, rare metals and unseen maritime biodiversity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the importance of Samudrayan in his Independence Day address, emphasizing its possible impact on India’s economy and environmental stability.
India’s space zone has experienced significant expansion in the last decade with improving infrastructure and more and more private sector participation with driving development. While ISRO was established in 1969, it took more than two decades to develop its first launch pad in 1993, followed by another in 2004. However, rapid progress has been observed in the last ten years, including the construction of a third launch pad for heavy rockets. And set up a new small satellite launch facility in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu.
Currently the price of India’s space economy is $ 8 billion, it is estimated to increase to $ 44 billion within the next decade.
