Cabinet Clears Chandrayaan-4 and Venus Orbiter Mission for Space Exploration

The Union Cabinet has approved the Chandrayaan-4 mission, which aims to develop technologies for returning to Earth after landing on the moon and collecting lunar samples for analysis. The total cost of the mission is Rs 2104.06 crore, covering spacecraft development, two LVM3 launches, deep space network support, and special tests for validation. The mission will be completed within 36 months, involving significant participation from industry and academia.

Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM)

The Cabinet also approved the Venus Orbiter Mission, with a budget of Rs 1,236 crore, of which Rs 824 crore will be spent on the spacecraft. VOM, scheduled for launch in March 2028, aims to explore Venus’ surface, subsurface, and atmosphere to understand the planet’s evolution. ISRO will develop and launch the spacecraft, and the mission will provide valuable insights into the evolution of Venus and Earth.

Technological and Scientific Advancements

Chandrayaan-4 will demonstrate key technologies like docking, undocking, landing, lunar sample collection, and safe return to Earth. The Venus mission will help answer important questions about Venus’ transformation and provide data to the global scientific community.

Economic and Technological Impact

The space projects will significantly involve Indian industries and create employment opportunities. The missions are part of India’s larger vision for space exploration, which includes an Indian Space Station by 2035 and a human moon landing by 2040.

Collaboration and Future Goals

These missions will build on the success of Chandrayaan-3, contributing to India’s self-sufficiency in space technology. Plans are in place to engage academia through science workshops, and facilities will be set up for the analysis of lunar samples, positioning them as national assets.