Answer: To bring lunar samples back to Earth
Notes: The Union Cabinet approved the Chandrayaan-4 mission on 18 September 2024, aiming to collect lunar samples and bring them to Earth. Only the USA, Russia, and China have done this before. The long-term goal is to land an Indian astronaut on the Moon by 2040. ISRO will lead the mission, continuing its work from Chandrayaan-1, 2, and 3. A budget of Rs 2104.06 crore has been allocated, with the mission expected to take 36 months. The budget covers spacecraft development, two LVM3 rocket launches, deep space network support, and special tests. Success will pave the way for future manned lunar missions.
