Moon
Chandrayaan-4
Chandrayaan-4 is ISRO's approved lunar sample-return mission architecture, built from five modules to land, collect samples, and return them.
ISRO describes Chandrayaan-4 as an approved lunar sample-return architecture that is still being configured for a future launch rather than a fixed countdown date.
Official mission site ↗The mission
Approved in 2024, Chandrayaan-4 is ISRO's planned lunar sample-return architecture. The mission uses five modules—descender, ascender, transfer, re-entry, and propulsion—and is intended to demonstrate docking, ascent, re-entry, and lunar sample return from the south-polar region.
The launch
- Launch
- TBD
- Launch location
- Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India
- Launch vehicle
- Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (GSLV Mk III)
- Orbit
- Lunar orbit
Mission timeline
Union Cabinet approval
September 18, 2024 · Earth
India approved Chandrayaan-4 alongside the Venus Orbiter Mission on this date.
Open milestone source ↗Objectives
- 01
Collect lunar samples and return them safely to Earth.
- 02
Demonstrate a multi-module lunar docking and transfer architecture.
- 03
Land near the lunar south pole and support surface operations there.
- 04
Validate ascent, re-entry, and Earth-return systems for sample recovery.
Spacecraft
Descender Module
Module intended to descend to the Moon and deliver the sample-return stack to the surface.
- Manufacturer
- Indian Space Research Organisation
Ascender Module
Module intended to lift collected lunar samples off the surface and into orbit.
- Manufacturer
- Indian Space Research Organisation
Transfer Module
Module intended to ferry the payload stack between mission phases and support orbital transfer.
- Manufacturer
- Indian Space Research Organisation
Re-entry Module
Module intended to bring the returned samples back through Earth re-entry for recovery.
- Manufacturer
- Indian Space Research Organisation
Propulsion Module
Module providing propulsion and transport support for the multi-launch sample-return sequence.
- Manufacturer
- Indian Space Research Organisation
Gallery
One image from Chandrayaan-4.
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