The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V Narayanan has confirmed that the government has granted approval for the Chandrayaan-5 mission, marking another significant step towards India’s lunar exploration ambitions. The approval aligns with the nation’s broader goal of executing a human landing on the Moon by 2040.
Speaking at a felicitation event in Chennai, Narayanan outlined ISRO’s future endeavours, including the Chandrayaan-4 mission, which will focus on landing and sample collection. He revealed that Chandrayaan-5, approved only days ago, will feature a 350 kg rover, developed in collaboration with Japan. The mission is expected to demonstrate advancements in lunar landing capabilities, laying the groundwork for future human expeditions.
Reflecting on past achievements, Narayanan highlighted India’s successful Chandrayaan missions, with Chandrayaan-3 securing the country’s first soft landing on the lunar surface. He acknowledged the setbacks of Chandrayaan-2, describing the disappointment felt after its failure to land, but stressed the resilience and determination of the Indian space community.
Narayanan also reaffirmed India’s ambition to establish its own space station, the ‘Bharatiya Antriksh Station’, by 2035. He noted that the government has instructed ISRO to develop plans for sending Indian astronauts to the Moon using an indigenous rocket, with a safe return mission as a key objective.
Reflecting on the nation’s growing global footprint in space technology, Narayanan stated that ISRO has successfully launched 131 satellites, including contributions to SAARC nations. Over the past decade, India has deployed 433 satellites from its own soil, achieving an impressive 90 per cent success rate. Between 2015 and 2024, ISRO has facilitated the commercial launch of 393 foreign satellites and three Indian customer satellites via its PSLV, LVM3, and SSLV launch vehicles. Countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Canada, and Israel have relied on India’s launch capabilities.
In addition to lunar exploration, Narayanan emphasised India’s focus on solar studies, highlighting the successful launch of a satellite dedicated to researching the Sun. With this, India joins an exclusive group of four nations undertaking solar exploration.
The ISRO Chairman also spoke about the upcoming rocket launch complex at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the facility in February, with construction commencing in March. The site is expected to facilitate polar launches of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), boosting India’s role in the global small satellite market.
The felicitation ceremony in Chennai was attended by several dignitaries, including former Governor of Telangana Tamilisai Soundararajan and ex-Mayor of Chennai Saidai Duraisamy.
