Chennai: ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced that the Indian government has recently approved the Chandrayaan-5 mission as part of India’s long-term goal to achieve a Moon landing by 2040. He also shared plans for the Indian Space Station, slated for completion by 2035.
At a ceremony celebrating his appointment as ISRO’s Chairman, Narayanan outlined several key upcoming projects. He confirmed that Chandrayaan-5, which received approval just three days ago, will include a 350 kg rover and will be a collaborative effort with Japan. ISRO has already successfully completed three Chandrayaan missions, with Chandrayaan-3 achieving a soft landing on the Moon.
Narayanan explained that Chandrayaan-4, focused on landing and sample collection, is in the pipeline, while Chandrayaan-5 will showcase a higher-capacity lander critical for future missions, including potential human landings on the Moon.
Additionally, India’s plans for its own Space Station, called the “Bharatiya Antriksh Station,” are moving forward, with a goal to have it operational by 2035. Narayanan highlighted that the government is also working towards sending Indian astronauts to the Moon in an Indian-made rocket.
Reflecting on his tenure, Narayanan expressed gratitude to the Indian government, Prime Minister Modi, and his colleagues. He acknowledged the disappointment of the Chandrayaan-2 setback but celebrated India’s achievements, including launching 131 satellites and achieving a record 90% success rate with 433 satellite launches, including those for 34 countries.
Narayanan also discussed the upcoming Kulasekarapattinam spaceport in Tamil Nadu, which will facilitate launches of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). This new launch complex, aimed at capturing the small satellite launch market, was announced by Prime Minister Modi in February 2024.
The ISRO Chairman concluded by noting that India’s Chandrayaan missions had garnered international pride, with Chandrayaan-1 discovering water on the Moon and Chandrayaan-3 successfully landing on the lunar south pole. He also mentioned India’s recent launch of a satellite to study the Sun, positioning the country as the fourth in the world to do so.