Chandrayaan-4, Venus Mission, New-Gen Rocket, Space Station get Cabinet nod, Gaganyaan budget doubles to Rs 20,000 crore

BENGALURU: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Wednesday approved four pivotal space missions that mark a significant advancement in the country’s space exploration efforts, while doubling the budget for Gaganyaan, India’s first human spaceflight mission. The four new missions are: Chandrayaan-4, the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM), the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), and the space station or Bhartiya Antriksh Station (BAS).Chandrayaan-4 MissionThe Cabinet approved the Chandrayaan-4 mission, aimed at developing and demonstrating technologies necessary for a safe return to Earth after a lunar landing. Building on the successes of Chandrayaan-1, 2, and 3, this mission will focus on lunar sample collection and analysis.With a budget of Rs 2,104.06 crore, Chandrayaan-4 is expected to be completed within 36 months and is part of India’s broader vision to achieve an Indian lunar landing by 2040. The mission will demonstrate critical technologies such as docking, undocking, landing, and safe return capabilities, thereby establishing foundational technologies for future manned missions.Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM)In addition to lunar exploration, the Cabinet has greenlit the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM). This mission will seek to enhance understanding of Venus's atmosphere, geology, and environmental processes.With an allocation of Rs 1,236 crore, the VOM is slated for launch in March 2028 and will orbit the planet to gather scientific data. By investigating the conditions that may have made Venus once habitable, this mission aims to provide insights into planetary evolution and comparative studies with Earth.Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV)The Cabinet also approved the development of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), which is designed to increase payload capacity significantly while reducing launch costs through reusability.The NGLV will have a payload capability of 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit and is expected to enhance India's capabilities in both national and commercial space missions.The total budget for this initiative is Rs 8,240 crore, and it aims to be operational within eight years. The NGLV will support various missions, including human spaceflight and lunar exploration, further establishing India's position in the global space ecosystem.Space Station & Gaganyaan Budget DoublingThe expansion of the Gaganyaan programme to include the development of the first unit of the Bhartiya Antriksh Station (BAS) was also approved. This initiative aims to lay the groundwork for an operational space station by 2035 and supports ongoing human spaceflight missions.With a revised funding allocation of Rs 20,193 crore, the Gaganyaan programme will involve eight missions to be completed by December 2028, including the first module of BAS. This development is expected to boost microgravity research and create numerous employment opportunities in high-technology sectors.With the funding enhancement the Gaganyaan programme is set to lay the groundwork for India’s future in human space exploration — with collaboration among Isro, industry, and academia.Overall, these approvals are indicative of the Centre’s commitment to expanding India’s space exploration capabilities and positioning India as a key player in global space endeavours.