ISRO Working on Ambitious Lunar Missions LUPEX, Chandrayaan-4

In the wake of the successful soft-landing of the Chandrayaan-3 lander on the Moon, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has shifted its focus to two upcoming lunar exploration missions. Nilesh Desai, Director of the Space Applications Centre (SAC/ISRO) in Ahmedabad, provided insights into these ambitious projects—LuPEx and Chandrayaan-4.

Addressing a gathering during the 62nd foundation day celebration of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, Desai highlighted the objectives of the missions. LuPEx aims to land substantial 350 kg landers on the 90-degree (darker side) of the moon, employing precise landing technology for observational purposes. In contrast, Chandrayaan-4 is designed for a sample return mission.

Desai expressed the challenges and advancements involved in these missions, particularly emphasizing the goal of achieving a precise landing on the rim of a crater at a 90-degree angle with a 350 kg rover. Comparing it to the previous Chandrayaan-3 mission, he emphasized the increased complexity and duration, with the forthcoming mission lasting for seven lunar days, equivalent to almost 100 earth days.

Regarding Chandrayaan-4, Desai revealed plans for a lunar sample return mission. The mission involves landing on the lunar surface and returning with soil and rock samples. The landing process is similar to Chandrayaan-3, but with a unique twist—the central module will return after docking with the orbiting module, separating near the earth atmosphere, and the re-entry module will bring back lunar samples.

Desai shed light on the technical aspects, mentioning the need for two launch vehicles to accommodate the four modules (Transfer module, Lander Module, Ascender Module, and Re-entry module). The Re-entry and Transfer modules would be parked in lunar orbit, while the Ascender Module would descend to collect the lunar sample. Desai assured that the plans are currently on paper, and ISRO is actively working on the required technology.

Presently, ISRO is gearing up for its next collaborative space venture with the Japanese space agency, JAXA, named LuPEX (Lunar Polar Exploration). The successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 marked a significant achievement for India, making it the fourth country, after the US, China, and Russia, to successfully land on the moon surface.

Following the Chandrayaan-3 mission, India also launched its maiden solar mission, Aditya-L1, on September 2. The spacecraft has undergone successful maneuvers, escaping Earth influence and progressing in its journey. With these milestones, ISRO is advancing its capabilities and setting ambitious goals for lunar exploration in the coming years.