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Union Cabinet Approves Expansion of Chandrayaan-4 and New Space Missions
Context:
The Union Cabinet approved the expansion of the Chandrayaan-4 Mission to include preparatory measures for a future manned moon mission.
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In addition, the Cabinet also greenlit the Venus Orbiter Mission and the development of India’s first space station. Furthermore, plans for next-generation launch vehicles were approved, enhancing India’s capabilities in space exploration.
Key Highlights:
- The Union Cabinet approved four significant space initiatives led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), allocating over ₹22,750 crore for their development.
Chandrayaan-4:
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- With a budget of ₹2,104.06 crore, this fourth lunar mission aims to build on the success of Chandrayaan-3, making India the first nation to land on the lunar south pole.
- It will be a remote mission focused on retrieving lunar surface samples for analysis back on Earth.
- Scheduled for launch in 2027, it will enhance technologies developed in previous missions, including lunar docking, precision landing, and safe return protocols.
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Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM):
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- This ₹1,236 crore mission will be India’s first scientific exploration of Venus, targeting a launch in March 2028.
- The VOM aims to study the planet’s atmosphere and geology, providing insights into its evolution under conditions that were once similar to Earth’s.
- This mission will enhance understanding of planetary environments and the factors that lead to habitability.
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Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS):
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- The Cabinet approved the development of the first module of India’s indigenous space station, BAS-1, as part of the extended Gaganyaan program.
- The 52-tonne station will orbit 400 km above Earth and serve as a research platform for microgravity experiments, astronomy, and Earth observation.
- Aims to operationalise India’s space station by 2035 and a crewed Moon landing by 2040.
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Next-Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV):
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- A budget of ₹8,240 crore has been allocated and designed to enhance India’s space capabilities, replacing some existing launch vehicles.
- The NGLV will provide three times the payload capacity at 1.5 times the cost of the current LVM-3, with features like modularity, increased payload capacity, and reusability for cost-effective space access.
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Future Goals:
- ISRO plans to conduct four missions under the Gaganyaan program by 2026, alongside four additional missions to validate technologies for BAS by December 2028.
- These missions are expected to enhance India’s self-reliance in space technology, foster innovation, and support scientific research in various fields.