Chandrayaan-4 (5-module sample return)

Mission specifications

Operator

ISRO

Prime contractor

ISRO

Launch

2027–2028 (NET)

Landing site

Near Mons Mouton, lunar south pole

Customer

ISRO

Payload

Up to 3 kg lunar sample returnas of 2026-02-06^[1]

Key findings

• 1.Aims to be India's first lunar sample-return mission, targeting the collection of roughly 2–4 kg (up to ~3 kg per ISRO framing) of scooped and drilled samples near Mons Mouton at the lunar south pole for return to Earth.
• 2.Will fly a five-module architecture — descender, ascender, propulsion, transfer and Earth re-entry modules — split across two separate LVM3 launches because no single LVM3 can lift the full stack.
• 3.Would require ISRO's first Earth-orbit and lunar-orbit rendezvous and docking, joining the two launched stacks and later transferring the sample container between modules — capabilities India has not yet demonstrated in space.
• 4.Intends to demonstrate the full sample-return chain end to end: safe soft landing, surface sample collection and containerization, ascent from the lunar surface, orbital docking/undocking, and re-entry of the sealed capsule.
• 5.Architecture was sanctioned by the Union Cabinet of the Government of India in September 2024, with a stated target launch window of 2027–2028 (NET), subject to development progress and yearly budget approvals.

Mission outcome

Chandrayaan-4 is a planned, in-development mission — not yet launched — intended to bring the first Indian lunar samples back to Earth from near the south pole. Its unusual five-module design, flown on two LVM3 rockets with in-space docking, is a way to attempt sample return within the payload limits of India's current heavy-lift rocket. Success would prove out the docking, ascent and re-entry technologies ISRO needs for future crewed and deep-space missions; ISRO is currently working toward a 2027–2028 launch window following Union Cabinet approval of the architecture in September 2024.