Chandrayaan-4 To Collect Lunar Samples, ISRO to Launch Space Docking Experiment This Year: S Somanath

ISRO chief S Somanath spoke on the sidelines of the India Space Congress in New Delhi. (PTI/File)

After demonstrating a successful moon landing near its south pole, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing for Chandrayaan-4 to collect samples from the lunar surface. The mission will involve multiple launches, and the premier space agency is set to launch a space docking experiment later this year to develop its capabilities for the challenging endeavour.

The test called SPADEX – Space Docking Experiment — involves two mini-satellites which will be injected into two different orbits. The task is to bring them closer enough to connect again to be able to transfer objects in space. This capability is essential for future manned missions as well as for bringing back samples.

“We have worked out the configuration of Chandrayaan-4 and how to bring samples from the moon to earth. The entire project report with studies, review and cost has been worked out and sent for approval. We have proposed multiple launches because our current rocket capability is not enough for us to go in one mission, and return. So we need to develop docking capability in both earth-space and moon space systems. We are developing that capability,” said ISRO chairman S Somanath on the sidelines of the India Space Congress in New Delhi.

The docking capability is also crucial for future space missions including human spaceflights. ISRO is keen to further continue with its Chandrayaan series of missions to further explore the moon until it develops the capability to successfully land its astronauts on the lunar surface. The space agency plans to launch the SPADEX by November-December this year, but is yet to finalise a date.

FIRST UNMANNED FLIGHT OF GAGANYAAN THIS YEAR

The space agency also has its eyes set on Gaganayaan to fulfil India’s long-standing dream of sending astronauts into space. After the successful completion of the first Test Vehicle (TV-D1) last October, it is now preparing to perform three subsequent tests this year.

“We have three tasks ahead this year. One is called the G-1 – the first unmanned mission of Gaganyaan with LVM-3 followed by a second test vehicle demonstration (TV-D2) and then the first pad abort test. We are working on all three tests parallelly, and we are hopeful that by December all three can be completed,” said the ISRO chief on Wednesday.

NISAR SATELLITE TO BE READY BY SEPTEMBER-END

The space agency has its hands full this year with multiple missions in the pipeline. The joint Indo-US space mission – NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) — jointly developed by scientists from the United States and India is also set for launch. The powerful satellite will map the entire earth every 12 days with high precision and resolution, and capture places that have otherwise been obscured. The mission was expected to launch early this year, but got delayed after one of the components had to be sent back to the US for some corrections. According to the ISRO chief, the satellite is likely to be ready by September-end.

“One part of the payload – a deployable antenna which is a US-company supply right. So we have sent it back to the company in the US. They have to do some corrections, and it is likely to be brought back by 10th July. Once it reaches here, it has to be integrated with the satellite, and go through the entire testing process. The process is likely to take another two months. Once the satellite is ready, then we have to see if the GSLV is available for launch, so we will have to prioritize the missions accordingly,” he added.