Chandrayaan-4 and 5 Designs Ready; Gaganyaan Mission Expected in December: Report
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for the next phase of its lunar exploration with the Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5 missions. The designs for these missions are now ready and are awaiting government approval, according to ISRO Chairman S. Somanath. These missions are aimed at building on the success of Chandrayaan-3, which marked a major milestone for India by landing near the south pole of the Moon. The upcoming missions will focus on deeper exploration of the lunar surface.
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Gaganyaan Mission Update
Apart from the moon missions, ISRO is making progress on the Gaganyaan mission, which is set to be India’s first manned space flight. The ISRO chief said in an interview that an unmanned test is scheduled for December. The rocket stages, including the final C-32 cryogenic stage, have reached the launch site in Sriharikota. The crew module is being integrated at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, while the service module is being prepared at the UR Rao Satellite Centre. The crew escape systems are being moved to the launch site, with the December launch depending on the completion of final integration and testing.
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Training for the Axiom-4 Mission
Meanwhile, the two astronauts selected for the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) are currently undergoing initial training in the United States. The three-month training will include additional training sessions in Europe and other US facilities before the astronauts return to India. The Axiom-4 mission, scheduled for mid-2025, will be a major milestone for India’s space programme.
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SSLV Technology Transfer
In another development, ISRO has successfully completed the third developmental flight of its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). The technology is now ready for commercialization, with ISRO preparing to transfer the technology through a consortium of companies. Several companies have expressed interest and a request for proposals has been received. The selected company will work with ISRO for two years to facilitate the technology transfer and integration.
