ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan revealed that the Indian government has recently given the green light for the Chandrayaan-5 mission, a key step towards achieving India’s goal of a manned lunar landing by 2040. Speaking at a felicitation event in Chennai, Narayanan outlined ISRO’s ambitious future projects, which also include the establishment of India’s own space station by 2035.
Chandrayaan-5, set to feature a 350 kg rover, was approved just three days prior to the announcement, with collaboration between India and Japan on the mission. This follows the success of Chandrayaan-3, which achieved a historic soft landing on the moon’s south pole.
Narayanan also emphasized India’s plans to create the “Bharatiya Antriksh Station” by 2035 and send Indian astronauts to the moon aboard an Indian-made rocket. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his vision of a developed India and expressed gratitude for the opportunities provided by the Indian government.
Reflecting on past achievements, Narayanan shared that ISRO has launched 131 satellites, including for SAARC countries, and achieved a 90% success rate with 433 satellites launched from Indian soil. He noted the significance of Chandrayaan-1’s discovery of water on the moon and the subsequent success of Chandrayaan-3’s historic landing.
In addition, Narayanan highlighted the development of India’s second spaceport in Kulasekarapattinam, Tamil Nadu, which will support the launch of Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLV). This new spaceport is expected to play a pivotal role in capturing the global market for small satellite launches.
The felicitation event also included participation from several dignitaries, with Narayanan expressing his appreciation for the Tamil Nadu government’s support, distancing himself from political affiliations.