Chandrayaan-4
India's Next Lunar Mission
Chandrayaan-4 is ISRO's planned lunar sample return mission, a significantly more complex undertaking than the landing-only Chandrayaan-3. It requires two separate ISRO launches, orbital rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit, descent to the surface, sample collection, ascent from the surface, and return to Earth — all demonstrating capabilities India has not previously exercised.
- Mission type: Lunar sample return (bring back approximately 3 kg of lunar regolith to Earth).
- Launch architecture: Dual launch using LVM3 (formerly GSLV Mk III) for the lander/ascent module and a lighter rocket for the Earth re-entry/transfer module; rendezvous and docking required in both lunar orbit and potentially Earth orbit.
- Key new technology: Space docking — India demonstrated the Spadex (Space Docking Experiment) mission in December 2024 to validate rendezvous and docking technology for Chandrayaan-4.
- Timeline: Targeted in the 2026–2028 timeframe (exact date subject to revision).
- Scientific value: Lunar samples from the south polar region could settle questions about water-ice distribution, the Moon's geological history, and resource availability for future lunar stations.
- ShakthiSAT aims to piggyback on or be associated with Chandrayaan-4 for its lunar orbital satellite deployment.
● Tracked since February 28, 2026 · last seen April 20, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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