Forging a New Frontier with Chandrayaan-4

As India’s space ambitions soar, S. Somanath’s leadership at ISRO stands as a testament to the agency’s vision, expertise and unyielding determination.

In a quiet but momentous statement following the success of Chandrayaan-3 in August 2023, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath had declared, “India is now on the Moon!” The words had echoed across the world as India became the first country to successfully soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon’s south pole, cementing its place in the annals of space exploration. Under Somanath’s leadership, ISRO had joined an exclusive club of space-faring nations—becoming the fourth after the U.S., Russia, and China to achieve a lunar surface touchdown.

Yet, as significant as this achievement was, it was merely a stepping stone to the more ambitious Chandrayaan-4 mission. As the ISRO chief, Somanath now finds himself at the helm of a rapidly advancing space program, navigating the complexities of the next great frontier: returning lunar soil samples to Earth. This mission will not only mark a pivotal moment in India’s space aspirations but also showcase the sophistication of the technologies that ISRO is now mastering under Somanath’s guidance.

Sreedhara Somanath, with a background in aerospace engineering, is not only a visionary leader but also a seasoned engineer with a deep understanding of the intricacies of space exploration. Born in 1963, Somanath’s journey into the world of space began in 1985 when he joined the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram. Over the years, he became a key figure in the development of India’s launch vehicles, particularly the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). As a director at VSSC, he earned recognition for his pivotal role in the integration of the PSLV, which would go on to become one of ISRO’s most successful and reliable rockets.

Somanath’s expertise lies in the system engineering of launch vehicles. He was integral to the development of the GSLV Mk-III rocket, a crucial piece of ISRO’s arsenal for heavier payloads, which played a central role in the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon.

When Somanath took over as ISRO’s chairman in January 2022, following the tenure of Dr. K. Sivan, the agency was at the cusp of major advancements. As chairman, Somanath’s focus has been clear: to continue ISRO’s trajectory of scientific excellence while simultaneously fostering innovation in space technologies. His work on Chandrayaan-3 and the upcoming Chandrayaan-4 mission epitomizes his commitment to India’s expanding ambitions in space.

The Chandrayaan-4 mission is poised to push the boundaries of India’s space program even further. Building on the success of Chandrayaan-3, which soft-landed the Vikram lander on the Moon’s south pole in August 2023, ISRO now sets its sights on lunar sample return.

For Somanath, Chandrayaan-4 is the culmination of decades of scientific research, engineering prowess and strategic vision. The mission will require the successful execution of space docking experiments—a capability ISRO is developing with its SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment). In December 2024, ISRO launched the C60 mission, placing two satellites in orbit to demonstrate the technology of rendezvous and docking. This experiment, aimed at mastering orbital manoeuvres, is vital for Chandrayaan-4, as it will involve docking multiple modules in space before they return lunar soil to Earth.

The ability to dock and undock spacecraft is crucial for future space missions, particularly with India’s plans for a manned mission to the Moon and the establishment of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2035.

For Somanath and his team, this is the next frontier. With Chandrayaan-4, ISRO is striving to prove India’s capability to execute complex space operations, opening the door to future missions that could change humanity’s relationship with the Moon and beyond.

2025 promises to be a landmark year for ISRO, as it prepares to launch multiple missions, including the NVS-02 navigation satellite, and a series of GSLV and PSLV launches. These missions will not only demonstrate ISRO’s ongoing commitment to space exploration but also solidify its position as a leader in space technology. From the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 to the imminent Chandrayaan-4, ISRO’s trajectory under Somnath’s guidance is one of remarkable progress. But he remains focused on the horizon, as the true potential of India’s space program is only beginning to be realized.