In an unprecedented move, ISRO is gearing up for a seminal experiment with Chandrayaan-4 set to be sent to space in pieces before being assembled in orbit. Dr. S. Somanath made this revelation during an interview, stating that this mission will involve ISRO fetching samples from the moon and returning to Earth.
According to the ISRO chief, Chandrayaan-4 will not be launched all at once. Its parts will be carried to space in two launches and then assembled while en route to the moon. This modular approach is vital as it lays the groundwork for ISRO's future aspirations of constructing their own space station.
Unveiling this novel strategy, Dr. Somanath explained that the entire planning for Chandrayaan-4's launch sequence is complete - which part will launch when, how they will dock in space, and the subsequent lunar landing and sample return journey. He conceded that multiple launches are necessary since currently, ISRO lacks a rocket capable of carrying Chandrayaan-4 in a single mission.
Source: aajtak
Moreover, Dr. Somanath hinted that by successfully demonstrating this technique of joining the Chandrayaan-4 and its parts in space, ISRO will not only refine this technology but also attain the ability to craft a space station in the future. Hence, the Chandrayan-4 mission is of utmost significance.
Speaking of the year's goals, the ISRO chief mentioned that ISRO has mastered the docking technology, which can be performed in either Earth's orbit or the lunar orbit. He disclosed that ISRO aims to unveil this technology by sending the SPADEX mission by year-end.
Lastly, the chief detailed that the Indian Space Agency has already planned for the Indian Space Station (BAS), which aligns with the ISRO Vision 2047. Aiming for completion by 2035, the BAS will be launched piece by piece, to ultimately form the grand structure in orbit.
