Thu Feb 06 08:40:29 UTC 2025: ## India to Launch Chandrayaan-4 Moon Sample Return Mission in 2027
**New Delhi, February 6, 2025** – India will launch its ambitious Chandrayaan-4 mission in 2027, aiming to collect and return lunar samples to Earth, Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh announced today. The mission will utilize at least two launches of the heavy-lift LVM-3 rocket to deploy five components assembled in orbit.
Simultaneously, India is accelerating its space exploration program with several other major milestones planned in the coming years. The Gaganyaan mission, which will send Indian astronauts into low-earth orbit, is slated for launch next year, preceded by an uncrewed mission featuring the robot ‘Vyommitra’ later this year. In 2026, the Samudrayaan mission will send three scientists in a submersible to a depth of 6,000 meters to explore the deep ocean floor. Minister Singh highlighted the economic and environmental potential of Samudrayaan in uncovering valuable resources and marine biodiversity.
The minister also emphasized the remarkable growth of India’s space sector in the past decade. With the construction of a third launchpad for heavier rockets and a new launch site in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India is significantly expanding its space infrastructure. The space economy, currently valued at $8 billion, is projected to reach $44 billion within the next decade, driven by increased private sector participation and reforms unlocking the space sector for private players. This expansion, along with record investments, positions India as a major player in global space exploration.
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