Chandrayaan 5: What We Know Of The India's Biggest Ever Lunar Mission

India’s space ambitions have reached new heights as the Centre has given green light to ISRO 's Chandrayaan-5. This announcement marks a significant milestone in the country's ongoing journey of lunar exploration. ISRO Chairman, V. Narayanan, confirmed that the mission will be a groundbreaking leap in India’s space program and will be the most advanced lunar mission yet.

Chrayaan-5: A Bigger and Better Mission

Chandrayaan-5 is scheduled to launch around 2028-29, with the Chandrayaan-4 mission set to follow in 2027. According to Narayanan, the Chandrayaan-5 mission will feature several technological advancements compared to its predecessors. Chandrayaan-5 will feature a much larger rover, weighing in at 250 kg. This is a big improvement compared to the 25 kg ‘Pragyan’ rover that was part of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. The new rover will be able to study the Moon’s surface in much greater detail and will provide scientists with richer data to understand the Moon’s composition. Along with the bigger rover, the mission will also include a 20-kg rover designed to perform specific tasks on the lunar surface.

This mission will be developed in collaboration with Japan, bringing in advanced Japanese space technologies. The partnership will help improve the capabilities of the rover, especially in terms of capturing more detailed images of the Moon’s surface and gathering accurate data.

India's Ongoing Lunar Exploration Success

India’s lunar exploration journey has been nothing short of impressive. The first mission, Chandrayaan-1, was launched in 2008 and made groundbreaking discoveries, such as identifying water molecules on the Moon. In 2019, Chandrayaan-2 followed, and despite facing challenges with its lander, the mission was considered 98% successful. The orbiter of Chandrayaan-2 continues to send valuable high-resolution images of the Moon.

Chandrayaan-3, launched in August 2023, was another major achievement for ISRO. It made history by successfully landing the Vikram lander on the Moon’s South Pole, the first time any country has achieved this feat. This landing confirmed India’s growing space capabilities and was celebrated globally.

Read Also: Indians To Set Foot On Moon In A Made in India Rocket As Decks Cleared For Chandrayaan-5

 

Chandrayaan-5 is scheduled to launch around 2028-29, with the Chandrayaan-4 mission set to follow in 2027. According to Narayanan, the mission will feature several technological advancements compared to its predecessors. However, the specifics of these advancements have not been revealed yet.

The mission will continue India’s tradition of cost-effective space exploration. While the exact cost of Chandrayaan-5 is not disclosed, it is expected to follow the cost structure of Chandrayaan-3, which was completed at around ₹615 crore (approximately $75 million). In comparison, other countries' lunar missions like NASA’s Artemis I cost billions of dollars, showcasing India’s ability to achieve significant milestones at a fraction of the cost.

India’s Bigger Space Vision

Narayanan also highlighted ISRO’s long-term plans, including the creation of an Indian Space Station in the future. This independent space station would allow India to send crewed missions, such as the upcoming Gaganyaan, without relying on the International Space Station (ISS).

The Future of Lunar Exploration

Chandrayaan-5 promises to take India’s space program to new heights. By sending a larger rover with advanced technology to the Moon, ISRO will continue its groundbreaking work in lunar exploration. With future missions like Chandrayaan-4 aiming to bring back lunar samples, India’s space program is set for even more extraordinary achievements in the coming years.