ISRO Plans Major Space Missions: Chandrayaan-4 Set for 2028

ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organisation, has announced ambitious plans for its upcoming space missions, including the highly anticipated Chandrayaan-4, slated for launch in 2028. In a recent interview, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan detailed the organization’s roadmap, highlighting a period of significant growth and expansion in India’s space capabilities.

The agency is preparing for a busy schedule with seven additional launches planned before the end of the financial year. Among these will be a commercial communication satellite and several missions utilizing the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). Notably, one of these launches will feature the first PSLV manufactured entirely by the Indian industry, marking a significant milestone in domestic space production.

Chandrayaan-4 and Future Missions

The government has approved the Chandrayaan-4 mission, which is designed as a lunar sample-return operation. This mission represents India’s most complex lunar endeavor to date, with Narayanan stating, “We are targeting 2028 for Chandrayaan-4.” This mission aims to bring back samples from the Moon, a feat currently achievable only by the United States, Russia, and China.

Additionally, ISRO is collaborating with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) program, aimed at studying water ice at the Moon’s south pole. As demand for space missions increases, ISRO is working to triple its annual spacecraft production capacity over the next three years.

Narayanan also revealed plans for an Indian Space Station, expected to be operational by 2035. The first of five planned modules is scheduled for launch in 2028, positioning India as the third nation to operate a space station, following the United States and China.

Human Spaceflight and Global Ambitions

The timeline for India’s first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, remains on track, with the uncrewed missions scheduled for 2025 and the crewed mission confirmed for 2027. Narayanan emphasized the importance of this mission, stating, “The crewed mission was always planned for 2027, and we are holding on to that date.” The mission will include three uncrewed test flights before the inaugural flight with Indian astronauts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed ISRO to aim for sending Indian astronauts to the lunar surface by 2040, aligning India’s long-term human spaceflight goals with those of other leading space nations. The United States is pursuing lunar crewed missions under the Artemis program, while China aims for its first crewed moon landing by 2030.

Currently, India’s share of the global space economy is approximately 2 percent, which ISRO aims to increase to 8 percent by 2030. The Indian space economy is valued at around USD 8.2 billion and projected to grow to USD 44 billion by 2033. In contrast, the global space economy is estimated to stand at about USD 630 billion, with projections reaching USD 1.8 trillion by 2035.

Narayanan noted that recent reforms in the space sector have significantly increased private participation, with over 450 industries and 330 startups now active in India’s space ecosystem, a dramatic rise from just three startups a few years ago. “We now have a vibrant base ecosystem, and it will grow further,” he remarked. The acceleration of India’s private space industry follows regulatory reforms initiated in 2020, which have facilitated private rocket development, satellite manufacturing, and commercial launch services.

As ISRO prepares for these pivotal missions, the organisation’s developments not only highlight India’s growing capabilities in space exploration but also its ambition to play a significant role in the global space economy.