Sat Nov 29 23:11:00 UTC 2025: Summary:

This news article from The Hindu e-paper reports on ISRO’s ambitious future plans as announced by its Chairman, Dr. V. Narayanan, at Vel Tech University’s convocation. ISRO aims to launch Chandrayaan-4 by 2028, a sample-return mission to the Moon. This mission will involve a significantly larger lander and rover compared to Chandrayaan-3, potentially involving collaboration with Japan. Further ahead, ISRO is working on a 52-tonne space station slated for 2035 and plans for a manned lunar mission by 2040. The article also highlights the substantial benefits provided by India’s 57 satellites, generating significant revenue and connecting vital services. In addition, the convocation featured speeches encouraging students to contribute to making India a product-driven nation.

News Article:

India Aims to Retrieve Lunar Samples with Chandrayaan-4 Mission by 2028

Chennai, November 30, 2025 – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is setting its sights on a more ambitious lunar endeavor with the Chandrayaan-4 mission, scheduled for launch by 2028. ISRO Chairman, Dr. V. Narayanan, revealed the plans at the 15th Convocation of Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology on Saturday.

Chandrayaan-4 represents a significant step forward, aiming to land a rover on the Moon, collect samples, and return them to Earth for extensive scientific analysis. The mission involves a substantially larger lander and rover compared to the successful Chandrayaan-3, which captivated the nation and the world. Preliminary talks are being held for collaboration with Japan on this next iteration.

Beyond lunar exploration, ISRO is also focused on constructing a 52-tonne space station, fully funded by the Indian government, with an anticipated completion date of 2035. Looking further into the future, the agency plans to send a manned mission to the Moon by 2040.

Dr. Narayanan also emphasized the significant impact of India’s existing 57 satellites, currently in orbit. These satellites are providing crucial services ranging from television broadcasting and telecommunications to disaster warning and monitoring potential fishing zones. ISRO estimates that satellite data helps 900,000 fishermen locate potential catches, leading to an annual profit of ₹25,000 crore for the Indian government. The space agency is using satellites to connect over 10,000 trains in real time and working to extend this monitoring to cover all trains.

At the convocation, guest speakers urged the graduates to prioritize innovation and product development to bolster India’s standing on the global stage. A total of 3,074 students received their degrees at the ceremony.

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