Produced by: BT Desk
Chandrayaan-4 will pioneer an advanced in-space assembly technique where mission modules are stacked and assembled in space, allowing India to overcome payload limitations and perform complex operations efficiently.
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The mission will be launched in two parts. The first launch will carry the Ascender and Descender modules, while the second will bring the Propulsion, Transfer, and Re-entry modules into space.
After both stacks are launched, a complex docking manoeuvre in Earth's elliptical orbit will integrate the two stacks into a single spacecraft for further lunar navigation.
The Descender module will guide a controlled soft landing on the Moon, marking a critical step for India in achieving successful lunar sample collection.
Once landed, a robotic arm will collect 2 to 3 kg of lunar soil and perform drilling to gather subsurface material, ensuring a diverse sample set for scientific research.
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Collected lunar samples will be securely stored in the Ascender module, ensuring contamination-free transfer back to Earth for analysis.
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The Ascender module will lift off from the Moon and dock with the Transfer and Re-entry modules, preparing for the return journey to Earth.
The fully assembled spacecraft, using the Propulsion module, will perform Earth-bound manoeuvres, discarding depleted parts as it moves toward Earth.
Once near Earth, the Re-entry module will safely carry the lunar samples through the atmosphere, marking the successful completion of India's most ambitious lunar mission.
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