Building on the success of Chandrayaan-3, ISRO plans the ambitious Chandrayaan-4 lunar mission.
Chandrayaan-4 aims to go beyond its predecessors by not only landing on the moon's surface but also bringing lunar samples back to Earth.
Chandrayaan-4 Mission Details:
Unveiled by Nilesh Desai, Director of the Space Applications Centre (SAC/ISRO), during an address to the Indian Tropical Meteorology Institute.
Involves a complex trajectory, including lunar landing, sample collection, connection to another space module, and a unique split maneuver during Earth approach.
Rover and Exploration Area:
The rover's weight is significantly increased to 350kg compared to Chandrayaan-3's 30kg rover.
Aims for a daring landing on the moon's uncharted territory.
Exploration area expands to 1000m x 1000m, doubling the scope of Chandrayaan-3.
Ultimate Challenge:
The primary challenge for Chandrayaan-4 is successfully returning lunar samples to Earth.
This feat demands two robust rockets for transporting the precious cargo.
Collaboration with JAXA:
Ongoing collaboration with the Japanese space agency, JAXA, on the "LuPEX" lunar mission.
LuPEX mission, weighing 350 kg, targets the moon's dark side and plans to explore regions up to 90 degrees on the lunar surface.
Current Progress:
Ongoing progress includes JAXA's review, working group visits, and fine-tuning the payload lineup for the Chandrayaan-4 mission.
Chandrayaan-4 Mission Overview:
Illustrates collaborative efforts and advancements in lunar exploration.