Space Chandrayaan-4 Mission ISRO Chairman, V. Narayanan, announced plans to launch the Chandrayaan-4 mission by 2028. The mission aims to land a rover on the Moon, collect samples, and bring them back to Earth for experiments — India’s first sample-return lunar mission. International Collaboration: Japan has partnered with India for this mission. Major design upgrades compared to Chandrayaan-3: Lander weight: 6,800 kg (vs. 1,600 kg in Chandrayaan-3) Rover weight: 350 kg (vs. 25 kg earlier) Future ISRO Plans ISRO is building a 52-tonne space station, targeted for completion by 2035. A manned mission to the Moon is planned for 2040. A new heavy-lift rocket, as tall as a 40-storey building, is under construction for future missions. Current Satellite Capabilities India currently has 57 satellites in orbit. They support: broadcasting, telecom, tele-education, telemedicine, earth observation, disaster management, real-time train tracking, and fisheries monitoring. Latest inventions in science and technology Aircraft Hansa-3 NG The Union Minister for Science & Technology launched India’s first indigenous production-version pilot trainer aircraft Hansa-3 NG at CSIR-NAL, Bengaluru. Hansa-3 NG is a two-seater, next-generation, all-composite trainer aircraft designed for Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) training. It is the first fully indigenous trainer aircraft ready for serial production in India’s civil aviation ecosystem. Developed by: Designed and developed by CSIR–National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru. CSIR-NAL is also developing the SARAS Mk-2, a 19-seater Light Transport Aircraft for both civilian and military use. It is the first Indian multi-purpose civilian aircraft in the light transport aircraft category.
