Chandrayaan-5 mission approved, India to collaborate with Japan to study moon

The government has sanctioned the bold Chandrayaan-5 mission, intended to explore the Moon with a much larger rover than earlier models, as stated by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan.

Narayanan revealed the endorsement during a celebration for his recent appointment as ISRO Chairman. “Only three days prior, we obtained authorization for the Chandrayaan-5 mission.” “We will be carrying it out in partnership with Japan,” he stated.

The Chandrayaan-5 mission is set to include a 250 kg rover, marking a significant enhancement from the 25 kg ‘Pragyan’ rover utilized in the Chandrayaan-3 mission. This collaboration with Japan is anticipated to improve the mission’s scientific abilities.

The Chandrayaan initiative has played a key role in India’s exploration of the Moon. Chandrayaan-1, which was launched in 2008, conducted a chemical, mineralogical, and photo-geological mapping of the Moon’s surface.

Chandrayaan-2, which was launched in 2019, achieved 98 percent success but faced challenges in its concluding phases. Nonetheless, its orbiter is still transmitting hundreds of detailed images.

Chandrayaan-3, which was launched in 2023, successfully showcased India’s capability to perform a soft landing on the Moon’s South Pole. The lander of the mission, Vikram, and the rover, Pragyan, were put into hibernation mode because of the lunar night that lasts around 14 Earth days, in order to save energy and shield the instruments from severe cold.

In the future, ISRO intends to send off Chandrayaan-4 in 2027 to gather and bring back lunar samples. Furthermore, ISRO is currently developing the Gaganyaan mission to launch Indian astronauts into space and aims to create its own space station, the Bharatiya Space Station.