ISRO Has Chosen Where Chandrayaan-4 Will Land-Here’s Why It Matters

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has officially identified a landing site near the Moon’s South Pole for its upcoming Chandrayaan-4 mission. The mission, approved by the Union government, is India’s first lunar sample-return mission and is targeted for launch around 2028. The selected site lies in the Mons Mouton region, one of the most scientifically valuable yet technically challenging areas on the Moon.

Why the Moon’s South Pole Matters So Much

The Moon’s South Polar region is of immense scientific interest because it contains permanently shadowed craters that may hold water ice, a critical resource for future human exploration. However, this region is also extremely difficult for landings due to,

• Rugged terrain
• Steep slopes and craters
• Extreme temperature variations
• Limited direct communication with Earth

Despite these challenges, ISRO’s detailed analysis has helped identify a location with the highest safety margin.

Mons Mouton Region: How the Final Site Was Chosen

ISRO scientists evaluated four candidate sites in the Mons Mouton region MM-1, MM-3, MM-4, and MM-5. After extensive terrain and hazard analysis, MM-4 was selected as the safest option.

Key features of the MM-4 landing site

• Area assessed: 1 km × 1 km
• Mean slope: Nearly 5 degrees (gentle for lunar standards)
• Average elevation: Nearly 5,334 metres
• Maximum number of hazard-free grids
• Lowest rock and crater density among candidates
• These features make MM-4 ideal for a precision soft landing.

Chandrayaan-4: India’s Most Complex Lunar Mission Yet

The Chandrayaan-4 mission is far more advanced than previous missions and includes multiple specialized modules,

• Propulsion Module (PM) – deep space manoeuvres
• Transfer Module (TM) – Earth-Moon transfer
• Descender Module (DM) – soft landing on Moon
• Ascender Module (AM) – lifts lunar samples
• Re-entry Module (RM) – returns samples safely to Earth

The DM + AM stack will carry out the South Pole landing using advanced navigation, guidance, and control systems, ensuring high landing accuracy.

Why Chandrayaan-4 Is a Major Leap for ISRO

Chandrayaan-4 is not just about landing—it is about bringing lunar soil back to Earth. This places India in an elite group of spacefaring nations capable of sample-return missions, which are considered among the most technically demanding space operations.

The mission builds on ISRO’s growing expertise in,

• Autonomous landing
• Precision navigation
• Deep-space communication
• Planetary sample handling

How Chandrayaan-4 Builds on India’s Lunar Legacy

ISRO’s lunar journey has progressed step by step,

• Chandrayaan-1 (2008) – Orbited the Moon and confirmed presence of water molecules
• Chandrayaan-2 (2019) – Orbiter successful, lander failed
• Chandrayaan-3 (2023) – Historic soft landing near South Pole
• Chandrayaan-4 (2028) – Planned sample-return mission from South Pole

Each mission has directly contributed to the confidence and capability required for Chandrayaan-4.

Why This Mission Matters for the Future

Chandrayaan-4 will help scientists,

• Study lunar geology in detail
• Understand the Moon’s evolution
• Assess water-ice potential
• Support future human missions and lunar bases

Question

Q. Chandrayaan-4 is India’s first mission aimed at,

A. Lunar orbit mapping
B. Human lunar landing
C. Lunar sample return
D. Mars exploration