The Indian Cabinet recently approved four important space missions, marking a major step forward in India's space exploration journey. These missions aim to boost India's position in space research and technology, highlighting the country's dedication to advancing its space capabilities and playing a key role in global space exploration efforts. The approved missions include Chandrayaan-4, the Venus Orbiter Mission, the creation of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station, and the Gaganyaan follow-up programme. Each mission comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities, and their success will depend on advanced technology, skilled expertise, and considerable financial support.
Foremost among them is the Chandrayaan-4 which is India’s next leap towards lunar exploration. Chandrayaan-4 is set to be a ground-breaking mission for India, focusing on collecting samples from the Moon and returning them to Earth. This mission, with an impressive budget of Rs 2,104.06 crore, builds upon the success of Chandrayaan-3, which proved India’s capability to land on the Moon. Now, Chandrayaan-4 aims to deepen our understanding of the Moon’s composition and geological history.
The primary objective of Chandrayaan-4 is to gather and analyse soil and rock samples from the lunar surface. These samples will provide valuable insights into the Moon's structure and evolution, offering scientists a better understanding of its formation and the processes that have shaped it over billions of years.
“The mission is not without its challenges. A precise lunar landing is essential to ensure the spacecraft touches down safely in the targeted region. Additionally, efficient sample collection and the safe return of these samples to Earth are critical. These operations will demand high levels of precision and advanced technology to be successfully executed. To achieve its goals, Chandrayaan-4 will utilise advanced robotics and autonomous systems, which will allow the spacecraft to navigate the lunar surface and collect samples efficiently. A sophisticated heat shield will also be crucial to protect the spacecraft from the intense heat generated during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere,” explained space expert Girish Linganna.
Chandrayaan-4 is more than just a sample return mission; it is a key stepping stone for India’s ambitious goal of landing astronauts on the Moon by 2040. Scheduled to launch in 2027, the mission will serve as a critical testing ground for technologies essential to crewed lunar missions. The mission will involve five modules launched in two separate phases, demonstrating ISRO’s innovative approach to handling complex space operations. These modules will work in tandem to collect lunar samples and return them to Earth—a feat previously achieved by only a few countries, including the United States and China.
“Chandrayaan-4 will test important capabilities, such as docking and undocking in lunar orbit, precision landings, and ensuring safe re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere. These technologies are vital for future crewed missions and will lay the groundwork for India’s eventual human moon landings,” remarked Linganna.
ISRO Chairman S. Somanath highlighted the mission’s importance, stating, "Chandrayaan-4 is not just about bringing back Moon rocks; it's about demonstrating our capability to send humans to the Moon and safely return them. This mission represents a significant leap forward in India’s space ambitions, bringing the nation closer to achieving its goal of a human presence on the Moon.
Similarly the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) is set to launch in March 2028, with a budget of Rs 1,236 crore, recently approved by the Union Cabinet. This will be India’s second interplanetary mission, following the successful Mars Orbiter Mission, which was launched in 2013 and entered Mars' orbit in 2014. The VOM aims to study Venus in detail, focusing on its surface features, clouds, lightning, volcanic activity, atmosphere, and how the Sun interacts with the planet. Scientists are particularly interested in understanding why Venus, once thought to be similar to Earth and possibly habitable, underwent such a drastic transformation.
This mission is expected to provide valuable answers to long-standing questions about Venus, shedding light on its evolution and contributing to important scientific discoveries. Out of the total budget of Rs 1,236 crore for the Venus Orbiter Mission, around Rs 824 crore will be allocated to the development of the spacecraft. ISRO will be in charge of designing and launching the spacecraft, ensuring the project is managed efficiently through their well-established procedures.
Various industries will be involved in building the spacecraft and launch vehicle, which is expected to create significant employment opportunities and have positive effects on other sectors through technological advancements.
The data collected from the mission will be shared with the scientific community using existing systems. Additionally, this mission will prepare India for future planetary missions that can carry larger scientific instruments.
“The Venus mission is highly intriguing but is expected to be one of the most difficult tasks ISRO has ever taken on. Venus is an extremely hostile planet, with its atmosphere mostly made up of carbon dioxide, resulting in scorching surface temperatures. Due to a strong greenhouse effect, temperatures can soar up to 870°F (470°C)—hot enough to melt lead. The planet’s surface is dotted with numerous volcanoes, many of which are dormant, though some could still be active. Adding to the challenge, Venus has an extremely high surface air pressure, about 90 times greater than what we experience at sea level on Earth,” pointed out Linganna.
Another major space mission is making significant strides in space exploration with its ambitious plan to build the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS-1), the country’s first space station module. The Indian government has officially approved the construction of this module, which has been integrated into the expanded Gaganyaan mission. This crucial decision sets India on a path to operate its own space station by 2035 and also opens the door for a manned Moon mission by 2040.
The Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) aims to create India's very own space station, which will orbit 400 km above the Earth's surface. Weighing 52 tonnes, this massive structure will act as a research hub where Indian astronauts and scientists can carry out experiments in areas like microgravity, astronomy, and Earth observation. The station will also allow astronauts to stay in orbit for periods of 15 to 20 days.
The Gaganyaan mission, originally designed for human spaceflight, has now been expanded to include eight missions, all to be completed by December 2028. This expansion covers not only additional uncrewed missions but also the launch of the BAS-1 unit, alongside the necessary hardware to support long-term human spaceflight activities.
With the updated scope, the overall budget for the Gaganyaan programme has risen to Rs 20,193 crore, with an additional Rs 11,170 crore allocated specifically for the expanded scope. This substantial financial investment underscores India’s growing ambition to become a major player in space exploration.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will spearhead the project, working in collaboration with industry partners, educational institutions, and various government agencies. The focus of the programme is to develop and demonstrate key technologies needed for extended human space missions. Four missions are planned under the current Gaganyaan schedule by 2026, followed by the construction of the BAS-1 module. Another four missions dedicated to technology demonstration and validation will be completed by 2028.
The Bharatiya Antariksha Station will play a pivotal role in advancing scientific research in microgravity, leading to breakthroughs that could benefit various sectors on Earth. The mission is also expected to create numerous job opportunities in high-tech fields related to space and technology.
Moreover, this initiative is poised to inspire a new generation of young Indians to pursue careers in science and technology. The innovations developed during this mission will have far-reaching societal benefits, further establishing India as a leader in space exploration and scientific discovery.
The fourth mission approved by the Union Cabinet focuses on the development of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV). This new launch vehicle will be designed to carry heavier payloads, be cost-effective, and reusable, with the potential to be commercially successful. According to the government, the NGLV will have three times the payload capacity of the current LVM-3, while only costing 1.5 times more. Its reusability will help lower the cost of accessing space, and it will feature modular green propulsion systems. A total of Rs 8,240 crore has been approved for the NGLV, covering development costs, three test flights, the setup of necessary facilities, programme management, and the launch campaign.
According to the government, the NGLV will strengthen India’s ability to carry out a variety of space missions, such as human spaceflight, lunar exploration, and satellite launches. This will greatly enhance the country’s space programme and overall space ecosystem.