Chandrayaan-5 Mission Approved: India and Japan to Collaborate on Lunar Exploration

Chandrayaan-5 Mission: Centre Grants Approval for Lunar Project, Says ISRO Chief | Why Is It Significant?

The ambitious Chandrayaan-5 mission is set to be a major lunar exploration project. In this mission, India will provide the lander, while the rover will be developed in collaboration with Japan.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has received approval from the Government of India for the Chandrayaan-5 mission, which will carry a 250 kg rover to study the Moon’s surface. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced this development on Sunday, confirming that the government had recently granted the go-ahead for the project.

Speaking at an event held in his honor after assuming the role of ISRO Chairman, Narayanan highlighted that Chandrayaan-5 will differ significantly from Chandrayaan-3, which carried the 25 kg Pragyan rover. The new mission will feature a much larger 250 kg rover, enhancing exploration capabilities.

“Just three days ago, we received approval for the Chandrayaan-5 mission. We will be undertaking this project in collaboration with Japan,” Narayanan stated.

When Will the Chandrayaan-4 Mission Be Launched?

The Chandrayaan-4 mission, expected to launch in 2027, aims to bring back samples collected from the Moon—a crucial step in India’s space exploration journey.

Discussing ISRO’s future plans, Narayanan mentioned that, in addition to various upcoming missions like Gaganyaan, efforts are underway to establish India’s own space station, named the Bharatiya Space Station.

The Chandrayaan Program: A Legacy of Lunar Exploration

The Chandrayaan missions focus on studying the lunar surface:

Chandrayaan-1 (2008) successfully conducted chemical, mineralogical, and photo-geologic mapping of the Moon.
Chandrayaan-2 (2019) was 98% successful, with only the final stages of the mission experiencing setbacks. Despite this, its high-resolution camera continues to capture and transmit hundreds of images from the lunar surface.
Chandrayaan-3 (2023), designed as a follow-up to Chandrayaan-2, successfully demonstrated India’s capability for a soft landing and rover operations on the Moon.

ISRO successfully launched Chandrayaan-3 on July 14, 2023, and its Vikram lander made a historic soft landing on the Moon’s South Pole on August 23, 2023—a milestone achievement for India’s space program.