Context: ISRO chairperson S Somanath has planned to launch Chandrayaan 4 to bring back samples from the Moon in four years.

Chandrayaan 4: A Next Moon Mission

• After Chandrayaan- 3’s success and Aditya-L1 launch, ISRO aims to bring back moon samples with Chandrayaan-4 in approximately four years.
• ISRO chairperson S Somanath shared this vision while discussing the space agency’s Vision 2047.

About Chandrayaan 4 Mission

• It is a lunar sample return mission that will land and thereafter be able to bring back the sample of the lunar surface.
• Rover:  This mission is expected to be more complex than its predecessor, Chandrayaan-3 which had a rover of 30 kg and Chandrayaan-4 plans to land a massive 350 kg rover. 
• The rover will have an exploration area of 1 km x 1 km which is significantly larger than Chandrayaan-3’s 500 meters x 500 meters.
• Landing on the Moon: The Chandrayaan 4 mission aims to perform a precise landing on the Moon’s rim (area yet to be explored).

ISRO’s Future Plans for Space: 

• Bhartiya Antariksh Station:
  • India is aiming to launch its first module of Bhartiya Antariksh Station in 2028.
  • A space station will be capable of conducting experiments with the help of robots.
  • The Prime Minister had previously called on the space agency to set up a space station by 2035 and send a man to the Moon by 2040.
• Inflatable Habitat Module:
  • Inflatable Habitat module is aimed at long duration stays by Indian astronauts in low Earth orbit.
• Satellite Refueling Technology: ISRO  is exploring satellite technologies capable of refueling other satellites in space.
• Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGVL):
  • ISRO is working on designing the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGVL) that will have a capacity to carry 16 to 25 T to low Earth orbit.
• Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX):
  • Space Docking Experiment is aimed at demonstrating autonomous docking capability.
  • Objective: To advance technology in orbital rendezvous, docking, formation flying, and other related fields.

• • Function: Two satellites that are connected to each other will be launched which will separate out , travel for a few kilometres, and then come back and connect.
  • Schedule: The launch is scheduled for the third quarter of 2024.
• Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LuPEX): 
  • ISRO is collaborating with the Japanese space agency( JAXA) on a lunar mission called LuPEX, which aims to explore the moon’s darker side. 
  • Shadowed areas: LUPEX mission will explore permanently shadowed areas of the lunar south pole.
  • Objectives: The collaboration is aimed at obtaining data on quantity and forms of water present on the moon.

Also Read:

• ISRO Conducts Test Flight (TV-D1) For The Gaganyaan
• Navy, ISRO Release Training Plan For Gaganyaan Crew

News source: Indian Express