Chandrayaan-4 Set for 2028: India Prepares for Its Most Complex Lunar Mission Yet
Avinash. India Aims to Bring Moon Samples Back to Earth for the First Time
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Ananya soch: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has officially set 2028 as the target launch year for Chandrayaan-4, the country’s most ambitious and technically challenging lunar mission to date. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan confirmed that the mission aims to collect samples from the Moon and return them safely to Earth—an achievement so far accomplished only by the United States, Russia, and China. Chandrayaan-4 could place India among this elite group.
A Fully Indigenous, High-Complexity Mission
With an estimated budget of ₹2104.06 crore, Chandrayaan-4 involves the development of advanced, entirely indigenous technologies, including a sophisticated sample-return module and advanced docking systems. Scientists describe it as India’s most complex lunar operation due to the precision and engineering required for sample retrieval and Earth re-entry.
ISRO’s Busy Year Ahead
Alongside Chandrayaan-4 preparations, ISRO is targeting seven additional launches this financial year, including commercial communication satellites and multiple PSLV and GSLV missions. A major milestone will be the launch of the first industry-built PSLV, marking a big leap in India’s private-sector space capabilities.
LOPEX Mission and India’s Space Station Vision
ISRO is also collaborating with Japan’s space agency JAXA on the LUPEX mission, which will explore ice deposits at the Moon’s south pole. Meanwhile, India’s own space station project is progressing steadily, with the first module expected to be placed in orbit by 2028 and full completion targeted for 2035.
Human Spaceflight & Rapid Industry Growth
The Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission remains scheduled for 2027, preceded by three unmanned test flights. India’s space economy—currently valued at $8.2 billion—is projected to grow to $44 billion by 2033, powered by over 450 private companies and 330 space-tech startups.
India’s space ambitions are rapidly transforming the nation into a major global space power, with Chandrayaan-4 poised to become its next historic milestone.
