ISRO Confirms Chandrayaan-4 for 2028 and Space Station Plan for 2035

The Indian Space Research Organisation is preparing for increased launch activity even as flagship missions such as Chandrayaan-4 and an indigenous space station take centre stage.

Chandrayaan-4 Approved as India’s First Sample-Return Mission

ISRO has received government approval for Chandrayaan-4, scheduled for launch in 2028. Designed as India’s most complex lunar mission to date, it will attempt to bring back samples from the Moon—an achievement accomplished so far only by the United States, Russia and China. The mission will rely on advanced landing, ascent and return systems, placing India among leading nations in deep-space capability.

Busy Launch Calendar and Industry Expansion

ISRO plans seven additional launches this financial year, including PSLV and GSLV missions and a commercial communication satellite. A key highlight will be the first PSLV built entirely by Indian industry. To support rising demand, the organisation aims to triple its spacecraft production capacity within three years, reflecting expanding private-sector participation across manufacturing and launch services.

Human Spaceflight and Space Station Roadmap

The Gaganyaan crewed mission remains set for 2027, with three uncrewed tests preceding it. ISRO has also begun work on an Indian Space Station, expected to be fully operational by 2035. The first of its five modules is targeted for orbit in 2028. This long-term plan aligns with national ambitions to send astronauts to the lunar surface by 2040, placing India alongside major human-spaceflight powers.

Exam Oriented Facts

• Chandrayaan-4 is planned for 2028 as India’s first lunar sample-return mission.
• India’s crewed Gaganyaan mission remains scheduled for 2027.
• The Indian Space Station is targeted for completion by 2035, with the first module launching in 2028.
• India aims to raise its global space-economy share from 2% to 8% by 2030.

Rising Space Economy and Private-Sector Growth

India’s space economy, valued at USD 8.2 billion, is projected to reach USD 44 billion by 2033. Reforms introduced since 2020 have opened the sector to private players, resulting in over 450 industries and 330 startups entering the ecosystem. With missions like LUPEX progressing alongside Chandrayaan-4 and Gaganyaan, ISRO’s expanding roadmap signals India’s ascent as a major force in global space exploration.