So India’s space agency ISRO is already planning their next lunar mission after the success of Chandrayaan-3. They’re calling it Chandrayaan-4. But this time they’re doing things a little differently.Instead of launching everything in one big rocket like before, they’re splitting it into two smaller launches. The first will send some equipment to the Moon’s surface. Then a second launch will send a lander and rover to touch down. Even more exciting, this rover is designed not only to land, but also collect rock and soil samples and bring them back to Earth.So it looks like India is aiming to be one of the few countries that has returned lunar samples for scientists to study.Pretty cool what ISRO has in store for their next trip to the Moon!
Chandrayaan-4 components
Chandrayaan-3 had three main parts – the lander, rover, and propulsion module. Chandrayaan-4 will actually have two additional parts. These parts will retrieve samples from the Moon and return them back to Earth. According to ISRO chief S Somnath, Chandrayaan-4 will have five modules.
The propulsion module: It will guide Chandrayaan-4 into lunar orbit before separating, similar to Chandrayaan-3.
The descender module: It will land on the Moon, like the Vikram lander from Chandrayaan-3.
The ascender module: Once samples are collected, the ascender module will take off from the lander and start returning to Earth.
The transfer module: it will grab the ascender module and remove it from lunar orbit on the way back to Earth. Before detaching, it will bring the capsule with rock and soil samples. The re-entry module: it will be the capsule carrying a lunar regolith that lands on Earth after returning from the Moon.
Split launch plan of ISRO
So it looks like India’s Chandrayaan-4 mission will have its components launched in two separate missions.The big rocket, LVM-3, will carry three of the pieces – the Propulsion Module, Descender Module and Ascender Module.Then a smaller rocket called PSLV will launch the other two components – the Transfer Module and Re-entry Module.They’re planning to do it similar to how they launched Chandrayaan-3 last year in 2023.The space agency ISRO hasn’t said yet which launch will happen first with the big rocket or small rocket. They still have some details to share about the exact launch plan for getting all the pieces into space.
