India's Monumental Leap in Space: Chandrayaan-4, Venus Mission, and Space Station

In a major boost to India's space initiatives, the government has approved the Chandrayaan-4 mission to collect moon rocks, a mission to Venus, and the expansion of the Gaganyaan project to develop an Indian space station. Funding allocations and technological advancements mark significant steps toward India's ambitious space goals.

In a decisive stride for India's space ambitions, the government on Wednesday sanctioned the Chandrayaan-4 mission, aimed at retrieving lunar samples, as well as a mission to orbit Venus. Additionally, the Gaganyaan project will be expanded to establish an Indian space station.

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, greenlit a proposal by the Department of Space to develop a Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV). This vehicle will be pivotal in setting up a space station and executing a manned lunar mission.

Prime Minister Modi announced the approval of the first step toward the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) via a post on X, emphasizing the goal of achieving a self-sustaining space station by 2035 and a crewed lunar mission by 2040.

(With inputs from agencies.)