PM Modi Greenlights Chandrayaan-4: A Step Towards India's Self-Reliance in Lunar Exploration and Manned Missions
The Union Cabinet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved India's upcoming lunar mission, Chandrayaan-4. This mission is designed to make India self-sufficient in essential technologies for manned moon missions, retrieving lunar samples, and performing scientific analysis on those samples. Here's an overview of the main features of Chandrayaan-4.
Objectives of Chandrayaan-4
Chandrayaan-4 is an ambitious project aimed at enabling India to develop foundational technologies crucial for:
- Manned lunar missions
- Lunar sample return
- Scientific study of lunar samples
Key Highlight: The mission will heavily involve Indian industries, ensuring collaboration and technology development within the country.
Expanded Mission Scope
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that Chandrayaan-4 is an expansion of the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission. The next step is a manned mission to the Moon, for which all the necessary preparatory actions were approved.
Key Elements of Chandrayaan-4
- ISRO's Role: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will take charge of the spacecraft's development and launch.
- Project Management: The mission will be managed using ISRO's established practices.
- Timeline: The mission is expected to be completed within 36 months from approval, with participation from Indian industries and academia.
- Indigenous Technology: All critical technologies for the mission will be developed within India, ensuring self-reliance.
Employment and Economic Impact
The project is expected to create significant employment opportunities and lead to technological advancements in other sectors. Industries across the country will play a crucial role in realizing the mission, which could have a positive ripple effect on the economy.
Budget and Cost
The total budget allocated for Chandrayaan-4 is ₹2104.06 crore. This cost includes:
- Spacecraft development
- Two launch vehicle missions using LVM3
- External support for deep space communication
- Special tests for validating the spacecraft’s design
Objective: Safely land on the Moon, collect lunar samples, and return to Earth with these samples for scientific analysis.
Collaboration with Academia
Indian academia will play a crucial role in the mission, participating in science meets and workshops. The mission also plans to establish facilities for preserving and analyzing the lunar samples, which will become valuable national assets.
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Chandrayaan-4 marks a significant step forward for India’s space exploration efforts. It will boost the country's capabilities in manned lunar missions, contribute to technological advancements, and offer numerous opportunities for employment and innovation across various industries. The mission aims to continue the legacy of Chandrayaan-3’s success, bringing India closer to achieving major milestones in space exploration.