India is poised to take a giant leap in space exploration with its upcoming Chandrayaan-4 mission, which aims to not only land on the Moon but also return with precious lunar samples. This ambitious project marks a significant milestone as it involves the country's burgeoning private sector in a major space endeavor.
The Mission's Blueprint
Chandrayaan-4 is the successor to the successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing and is part of the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) broader vision for lunar exploration. The mission's complexity is heightened by its multi-launch, multi-spacecraft strategy, which will see two separate launch vehicles, a PSLV and an LVM-3, carrying four distinct spacecraft modules into space.
The mission's primary objective is to safely land on the Moon, collect lunar regolith, and return the samples to Earth for comprehensive scientific analysis. This feat, if successful, will place India among the elite group of nations that have accomplished a moon sample return, including the United States, the Soviet Union, and China.
Involvement of the Private Sector
A pivotal aspect of Chandrayaan-4 is the inclusion of India's emerging private sector. The new national space policy introduced in 2023 has paved the way for private companies to play a significant role in this flagship mission. This collaboration is expected to foster innovation and accelerate the development of new technologies crucial for the mission's success.
Nilesh Desai, Director of the Space Applications Centre (SAC), revealed the details in a presentation marking National Technology Day at SAC in Ahmedabad. “We are working on that and hopefully in the next four or five years or so. This also opens up many new technologies. The private sector also is going to be involved in a big way,” Desai said.
Chandrayaan-4 will consist of five spacecraft modules, each with a specific role in the mission. The Propulsion Module, Descender Module, and Ascender Module will be launched aboard India's heaviest launch vehicle, the LVM-3. The Transfer Module and the Re-entry Module will take off on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
LVM3 M3 / OneWeb India-2 Mission image credit: ISRO
The mission's objectives extend beyond sample collection. It aims to demonstrate critical technologies such as lunar sample collection and containerization, ascent from the lunar surface, docking and undocking in lunar orbit, and the transfer of samples between modules. These technologies are not only vital for the success of Chandrayaan-4 but also lay the groundwork for future crewed lunar missions and the long-term goal of establishing a lunar base.
India is also working on the Lunar Polar Exploration (LuPEx) mission with Japan. That is to consist of an ISRO lander and a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) rover to explore permanently shadowed craters. The mission will launch on a Japanese H3 rocket.
Desai also touched on plans for a Mars Lander Mission (MLM), a follow up to the 2013 Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM).
“Going there for nine months and then landing, that is the biggest challenge,” Desai noted. He also listed critical technologies for the mission as a supersonic parachute, aerodynamic design for landing, and a sky-crane for lander deployment. An LVM-3 would launch MLM, while a relay satellite would be launched on a PSLV.
A range of proposed science payloads for a mission rover include a ground-penetrating radar, mineral-mapping spectrometers, a raman spectrometer for seeking bio-signatures, a range of cameras and an in-situ resource utilization instrument.
While the exact timeline for Chandrayaan-4 is yet to be finalized, ISRO plans indicate a launch no earlier than 2028. The mission's success could propel India's space program to new heights and align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of sending Indian astronauts to the Moon by 2040.
Chandrayaan-4 represents a bold step forward in India's space journey. By harnessing the capabilities of the private sector and demonstrating advanced space technologies, India is not just aiming for the Moon but also setting its sights on a sustainable presence in space. The mission's success will undoubtedly inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers, and space enthusiasts, both within India and across the globe.
Add comment
Comments