New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has unveiled an ambitious lunar roadmap with plans to launch its next two major lunar missions — Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5 — by 2028, marking one of the most significant phases in India’s history of space exploration.
ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan confirmed these targets, signalling India’s growing capabilities in spacecraft development and lunar science.
These upcoming missions underscore India’s evolution from a regional space actor to a major global space power, deepening scientific exploration of the Moon while fostering international collaboration and domestic industrial growth.
Background of Chandrayaan Mission
India’s journey towards lunar exploration began with the Chandrayaan programme, which has steadily expanded in scope and complexity:
Chandrayaan-1 (2008) — India’s first mission to the Moon, which discovered water molecules on the lunar surface.
Chandrayaan-2 (2019) — Included an orbiter, lander, and rover; although the lander failed to make a soft landing, the orbiter continues to deliver valuable data.
Chandrayaan-3 (2023) — Achieved a successful soft landing near the lunar south pole, making India the fourth nation to land on the Moon.
Building on these successes, ISRO has structured the next phase of lunar operations to advance scientific discovery and pave the way for future human and robotic missions.
Chandrayaan-4: A Complex Lunar Sample-Return Mission
Chandrayaan-4 represents a major milestone: India’s first lunar sample-return mission, aimed at collecting lunar soil and rock and returning them safely to Earth for detailed scientific study — a feat only previously achieved by the United States, Russia, and China.
Key objectives include:
- Soft landing on the lunar surface near the south pole region.
- Collection and containment of lunar regolith (soil and rock).
- Ascent from the Moon and Earth return of collected samples.
Mission Architecture & Technology
The mission will involve a multi-module spacecraft design consisting of:
- Transfer Module — Carries all systems to lunar orbit.
- Lander & Ascent Module — Performs landing, collects samples, and returns to orbit.
- Re-entry Module — Returns samples back to Earth.
The mission will likely be launched aboard two LVM3 rockets (also known as GSLV Mk-III) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
Chandrayaan 4 Launch Date Timeline
ISRO is targeting a 2028 launch window for Chandrayaan-4, with key prototype testing planned in 2026 as part of the mission development schedule.
Chandrayaan-5: International Collaboration and Advanced Exploration
While Chandrayaan-4 focuses on scientific return, Chandrayaan-5 is envisioned as a collaborative mission between ISRO and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). This partnership emphasises shared technological expertise, especially in propulsion and lunar surface exploration.
Mission Goals
Although formal technical details are still maturing, Chandrayaan-5 is expected to incorporate:
- Exploration of shadowed craters in the lunar south pole, where water ice is believed to exist.
- Deployment of next-generation rovers and advanced scientific payloads.
- Further demonstration of precision landing and robotic exploration technologies.
Chandrayaan 5 Launch Date Timeline
Similar to Chandrayaan-4, the 2028 launch target reflects ISRO’s aggressive lunar exploration programme and growing synergy with international partners.
Strategic Vision & Broader Space Ambitions
Scaling Up Space Activity: ISRO is in a phase of notable acceleration, with plans to triple spacecraft production over the next three years to meet growing mission demands, expand commercial services, and support international partnerships.
Human Spaceflight & Space Station Goals: Alongside lunar missions, India continues work on the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, with uncrewed missions scheduled ahead of the crewed launch. ISRO is also pursuing development of a Bharatiya Antariksha Station (Indian Space Station) targeted for 2035.
