Parameter | Value |
---|---|
Mission name | Chandrayaan-4 |
Launch date | Scheduled to launch in 2026 |
Agency | Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) |
Lander | Provided by ISRO |
Rover | Provided by JAXA |
Landing site | Shackleton Crater, which is located in the lunar south pole |
Mission duration | Expected to last for six months |
Total cost | Estimated to be around $1 billion |
The Chandrayaan-4 mission is the fourth mission in the Chandrayaan program, which is India’s lunar exploration program. The first mission, Chandrayaan-1, was launched in 2008 and orbited the Moon for 10 months.
The second mission, Chandrayaan-2, was launched in 2019 and attempted to land a lander and rover on the Moon, but the lander crashed. The third mission, Chandrayaan-3, was launched in 2023 and successfully landed a lander and rover on the Moon.
The Chandrayaan-4 mission is a joint mission between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The mission is scheduled to launch in 2026 and will send an uncrewed lunar lander and rover to explore the south pole region of the Moon.
The main objectives of the Chandrayaan-4 mission are to:
- Search for water ice in the lunar polar regions.
- Study the geology and mineralogy of the lunar south pole.
- Characterize the lunar environment in the polar regions.
- Investigate the potential for future human exploration of the Moon.
- The Chandrayaan-4 mission is a significant step forward in India’s lunar exploration program. It will be the first Indian mission to explore the lunar south pole, and it will help scientists to learn more about the Moon’s history and potential for future human exploration.
The Chandrayaan-4 mission is also a major milestone in the India-Japan space cooperation. The two countries have been working together on space projects for many years, and this mission is a further testament to their strong partnership. The success of the Chandrayaan-4 mission will help to pave the way for future joint space missions between India and Japan.
The Chandrayaan-4 mission is a very exciting project, and I am looking forward to seeing what it will achieve. I believe that this mission will make significant contributions to our understanding of the Moon and its potential for future human exploration.
Here is a brief background of the Chandrayaan program:
- Chandrayaan-1: Launched in 2008, it was India’s first lunar mission. It orbited the Moon for 10 months and made significant discoveries, including the presence of water ice in the lunar polar regions.
- Chandrayaan-2: Launched in 2019, it attempted to land a lander and rover on the Moon, but the lander crashed. The orbiter, however, is still in orbit around the Moon and is collecting data.
- Chandrayaan-3: Launched in 2023, it successfully landed a lander and rover on the Moon. The lander is named Vikram and the rover is named Pragyan.
- Chandrayaan-4: Scheduled to launch in 2026, it will send an uncrewed lunar lander and rover to explore the south pole region of the Moon.
Here are some additional details about the Chandrayaan-4 mission:
- The lander will be launched by ISRO’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III (GSLV Mk III).
- The rover will be launched by JAXA’s H3 launch vehicle.
- The lander and rover will land in the Shackleton Crater, which is located in the lunar south pole.
- The mission is expected to last for six months.
- The total cost of the mission is estimated to be around $1 billion.
- The Chandrayaan-4 mission is a major milestone in the India-Japan space cooperation. The two countries have been working together on space projects for many years, and this mission is a further testament to their strong partnership. The success of the Chandrayaan-4 mission will help to pave the way for future joint space missions between India and Japan.
The mission director of the Chandrayaan-4 mission is S. Mohana Kumar, a senior scientist from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. He is also the mission director of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which successfully landed on the Moon in August 2023.
The Chandrayaan-4 mission is a very exciting project, and I am looking forward to seeing what it will achieve. I believe that this mission will make significant contributions to our understanding of the Moon and its potential for future human exploration.