ISRO's 1st Moon sample return mission gets budget and clearance
ISRO is gearing up for Chandrayaan-4, its first mission to bring lunar samples back to Earth.
Cleared by the government with a ₹2,104 crore budget, the mission's launch date has not been announced and will help set the stage for Indian astronauts on the Moon by 2040.
The mission will use 5 modules launched on 2 rockets
Chandrayaan-4 uses five modules launched on two rockets from Sriharikota.
Robotic arms will collect and seal Moon samples, which are then sent into orbit and transferred to a return capsule headed for Earth.
It's a big step up in tech—think advanced rockets and precise robotics.
The mission will help scientists understand the Moon better
Bringing back actual Moon rocks lets scientists dig deeper into how our lunar neighbor formed and changed over time.
Plus, what ISRO learns here will help India prep for future space missions—including putting people on the Moon within our lifetimes.