India's space exploration journey is set to take another giant leap forward as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) prepares for its next series of lunar missions, Chandrayaan 4 and 5. On August 20, 2024, ISRO Chairman S. Somanath announced that the designs for these missions have been completed, and the agency is now seeking government approval to proceed.

The Chandrayaan-4 mission is particularly ambitious, aiming to collect and return moon rocks and soil samples to Earth after a successful soft landing on the lunar surface. This mission will also demonstrate advanced space capabilities, including launching a spacecraft from the moon and conducting a space docking experiment in lunar orbit. The successful retrieval of lunar samples will provide valuable insights into the moon's composition and help unravel the mysteries of its formation and evolution.

The elemental composition of the lunar surface, especially in the southern high-latitude regions, is of great scientific interest. Previous missions such as Apollo, Luna, and Chang’e have provided critical data on the lunar regolith from various regions. However, the Chandrayaan-3 mission, through its Pragyan rover's Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS) experiment, has offered the first in situ measurements of elemental abundances in these less explored areas. The findings indicate that the region is primarily composed of ferroan anorthosite (FAN), a material linked to the crystallization of the lunar magma ocean. Interestingly, the presence of higher magnesium levels compared to calcium suggests the mixing of other mafic materials, offering new ground truths for remote-sensing studies.

In a separate mission, ISRO successfully launched the EOS-08 Earth Observation Satellite on August 16, 2024. The satellite was carried into orbit by the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)-D3, marking the third and final development flight for this vehicle. The launch took place at 9:17 a.m. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

These advancements underscore ISRO's growing capabilities and its commitment to expanding India's presence in space exploration.

ISRO's Space Program: A Game Changer for Society and Employment

India’s Gaganyaan Human Space Mission Rocket Set for First Test Flight in December

ISRO Successfully Completes SSLV-D3-EOS8 Mission: A Milestone in Satellite Launches