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From uncrewed moon landings and lunar sample returns to human spaceflight, India’s expanding space program is set to strengthen its position in the global <keyword id="20114940" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="space-race" source="keywords">space race</keyword>. Under ISRO Chairman S. Somanath’s leadership, India’s space exploration vision includes high-stakes projects like Chandrayaan-4, Chandrayaan-5 and the human spaceflight mission Gaganyaan, positioning the nation as a significant player in space exploration.<br /><h2>Chandrayaan-4: India’s first <keyword id="23227406" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lunar-sample-return" source="keywords">lunar sample return</keyword> mission<br /></h2>Chandrayaan-4, scheduled for 2028, is one of India’s most anticipated upcoming missions. This mission aims to collect approximately 3 kilograms (about 6.6 pounds) of lunar samples from a water-ice-rich area near the moon’s south pole. Water ice in the lunar south pole is a prized resource, as it holds the potential to support life support systems and rocket fuel production, making it essential for long-term lunar exploration. Though the United States and Russia completed similar missions decades ago, Somanath highlighted that achieving this feat today is still both complex and costly. India, however, is determined to carry out this mission efficiently, with a budget of 21 billion rupees (roughly $250 million USD).<br /><br />Chandrayaan-4’s mission plan is highly intricate, relying on five spacecraft modules that will require two launches from ISRO’s powerful LVM-3 rocket. This setup includes modules for the lander, sample-collecting vehicle, transfer module, and a reentry module parked in lunar orbit to safely deliver the collected samples back to Earth. To practise in-orbit docking — a critical component of this mission — ISRO is set to launch a $14 million docking experiment (SPADEX) later this year or in early 2025, marking an essential step toward ensuring the mission's success.<br />    <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111455720" title="ISRO&amp;#39;s Chandrayaan-3 moon mission continues to uncover lunar treasures at Shiv Shakti point" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><br /><h2>A step beyond with Chandrayaan-5</h2>Following Chandrayaan-4, ISRO plans to launch Chandrayaan-5 in collaboration with the Japanese space agency, JAXA. The joint mission aims to leverage strengths of both space agencies, with ISRO developing the lander and JAXA providing the rover. <br /><br />Shortly after Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander and Pragyan rover had landed near the Moon’s South Pole, Japan’s Smart Lander had landed upside down near the lunar equator. While theC-3’s rover failed to awaken after the lunar night, JAXA’s rover did survive the lunar night and even snapped pictures of the lunar surface after that!<br /><br />This mission, also known as the Lunar Polar Exploration Project (LUPEX), will carry a 770-pound rover contributed by Japan, a significant upgrade from the 60-pound Pragyan rover deployed on Chandrayaan-3. Chandrayaan-5 will further strengthen India’s presence on the moon, targeting the resource-rich south pole, an area of growing international interest. The mission will come after Chandrayaan-4, but S Somnath has confirmed that the plan for the mission is ready already!<br /><h2>Gaganyaan: India’s first human spaceflight<br /></h2>Perhaps the most exciting of India’s upcoming space projects is Gaganyaan, a mission set to take India’s first astronauts to low Earth orbit by 2026. Originally scheduled for 2025, the timeline was extended to prioritise astronaut safety amid recent setbacks in the industry. Recognising the significance of this mission, the Indian government allocated an additional Rs 111 billion to Gaganyaan, bringing the program closer to launch.<br /><br />ISRO’s cautious approach includes a series of uncrewed test flights to evaluate critical systems. An uncrewed test flight, G1, is scheduled for December and will carry a humanoid robot named Vyomitra to test reentry, parachute deployment, and splashdown capabilities. Following G1, three more uncrewed missions will complete this rigorous testing phase. The mission’s crew, including Indian Air Force test pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, has been undergoing intensive training both in India and abroad, including a stint with Axiom Space at the International Space Station (ISS), where Shukla is training under former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson.<br /><br />Meanwhile, ISRO’s ambitious roadmap also includes future goals to land astronauts on the moon by 2040 and potentially establish a moon base before 2050. With these projects, India is set to establish itself as a formidable force in space exploration. As Somanath expressed in a recent lecture in New Delhi, the next few years will be dedicated to designing, developing and executing these complex missions, marking a new chapter in India’s journey toward the stars.<br />    <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="108891587" title="European Space Agency Director praises ISRO, calls India&amp;#39;s accomplishments in space &amp;quot;astonishing&amp;quot;" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><br />

ISRO’s ambitious lineup of missions include Chandrayaan-4, Chandrayaan-5 and Gaganyaan — likely within the end of this decade!

Top 10 budget-friendly countries for a winter getaway

<keyword id="19894886" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="china" source="keywords">China</keyword>'s ambitious space program just took a giant leap forward, unveiling plans to construct a <keyword id="23555954" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lunar-space-station" source="keywords">lunar space station</keyword>, launch manned lunar missions, and search for <keyword id="23555818" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="habitable-planets" source="keywords">habitable planets</keyword> over the next few decades. With a long-term vision mapped out through 2050, China’s space agencies are setting the stage for a monumental era in space exploration. But what’s driving this cosmic push – and why the <keyword id="19899207" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="moon" source="keywords">Moon</keyword>?<br /><h2>The three-phase roadmap</h2>China’s lunar aspirations are just one part of a broader national plan for space science, announced by the China Academy of Sciences (CAS), the China National Space Administration, and the China Manned Space Agency. This detailed plan, spanning 2024 to 2050, includes a three-phase roadmap that begins with laying the groundwork for manned <keyword id="20359086" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lunar-exploration" source="keywords">lunar exploration</keyword> and planetary studies through 2027.<br /><br />From 2028 to 2035, China will build an international lunar research station as part of its second phase, marking a significant investment in permanent lunar infrastructure. While the lunar base will help with exploration, it will also serve as a strategic step towards expanding China’s influence in space, making it a key player in a new wave of <keyword id="23555955" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="extraterrestrial-research" source="keywords">extraterrestrial research</keyword>.<br /><br />China’s plans don’t stop at the Moon. Part of the long-term strategy involves seeking habitable planets and investigating the potential for extraterrestrial life. Through various space science missions, China aims to explore celestial bodies both within the solar system and beyond. This quest for knowledge includes <keyword id="23555956" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="exoplanet-detection" source="keywords">exoplanet detection</keyword> and characterizing planetary atmospheres, which are critical for understanding potential habitability.<br /><br />“Scientists will also explore the habitability of celestial bodies in the solar system and exoplanets, and search for extraterrestrial life,” explains Ding Chibiao, Vice-President of the CAS. By combining these efforts with lunar exploration, China is broadening the scope of its space research, potentially paving the way for future interplanetary missions.<br /><h2>The big picture</h2>Beyond immediate goals, China’s space plan also includes studying cosmic phenomena. China will delve into key scientific themes like the “extreme universe,” focusing on the origins and evolution of the cosmos, detecting dark matter, and uncovering the mysteries of cosmic baryonic matter. China aims to push the boundaries of what we know about the universe, from gravitational waves to the fundamental nature of gravity itself.<br /><br />With new missions focused on the Sun, Earth, and heliosphere, China will conduct comprehensive Earth-Moon observations and investigate space weather. These studies aim to deepen understanding of Earth’s cycles and the larger forces at play within the solar system.<br /><br />China’s program isn’t just about lunar bases and scientific exploration; it’s a bold step in the growing global <keyword id="20114940" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="space-race" source="keywords">space race</keyword>. As one of the few countries with its own space station and a lunar mission under its belt, China is looking to establish itself as a premier player in space science. With a lunar base on the horizon, China’s focus on the Moon and beyond reflects a strategic move to claim its place in the future of space exploration.<br /><br /><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />

Why is China building a base on the Moon?

Imagine zooming in so close that you're seeing individual atoms dance together to form the <keyword id="23543459" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="tiniest-water-bubble" source="Orion">tiniest water bubble</keyword> ever recorded! Researchers at Northwestern University recently did just that — they captured a video of the smallest <keyword id="23543453" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="water-bubble" source="keywords">water bubble</keyword> known to science, measuring only 50 nanometers (about 0.000002 inches) in diameter. This microscopic marvel might not seem like much, but its implications for technology and <keyword id="19929542" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="space-exploration" source="keywords">space exploration</keyword> could be massive.<br /><h2>Science goes nano</h2>For the first time, scientists managed to film <keyword id="23543458" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hydrogen-and-oxygen" source="keywords">hydrogen and oxygen</keyword> atoms coming together to form water in a reaction triggered by <keyword id="21034648" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="palladium" source="keywords">palladium</keyword>, a rare metal. This reaction was documented in such fine detail that it showed the tiniest water bubble ever seen by human eyes.<br />               <div type="Youtube" id="w4NRThvgJJo" title="Nano-sized bubble of water forms out of thin air" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/w4NRThvgJJo/mqdefault.jpg"><url><![CDATA[https://youtu.be/w4NRThvgJJo]]></url></div>The process involved using an ultra-thin glassy membrane with honeycomb-shaped "nanoreactor" chambers to hold the gas molecules. This setup allowed researchers to monitor the bubble formation in real-time using advanced electron microscopes.<br /><br />"We think it might be the smallest bubble ever formed that has been viewed directly," notes lead author Yukun Liu. "Luckily, we were recording it, so we could prove to other people that we weren't crazy."<br /><h2>Why is it so hard to capture things this tiny?</h2>Taking images and videos of objects on such a tiny scale is no small feat. The main challenge lies in the size of the objects themselves — they are so minuscule that regular light-based microscopes can't detect them. To observe something like a 50-nanometer water bubble, researchers need to use electron microscopes, which can visualise objects at the <keyword id="23543454" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="atomic-level" source="keywords">atomic level</keyword>. These microscopes fire a beam of electrons (instead of light) at the object to create an image. <br /><br />However, the sample has to be stable under this intense electron bombardment, which isn't always possible with delicate <keyword id="23543457" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nanoscale-reactions" source="keywords">nanoscale reactions</keyword>. Moreover, the imaging process must be incredibly precise to capture the exact moment when atoms combine to form molecules. Even the tiniest disturbance can blur the image or distort the video. Despite these challenges, advancements in <keyword id="20080671" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nanotechnology" source="keywords">nanotechnology</keyword> and materials science have enabled scientists to visualise reactions that were once invisible.<br />          <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114190419" title="The Harvard students who added AI facial recognition to Meta glasses share some of their other big ideas" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Over the years, our ability to observe and record nanoscale reactions has improved significantly. Early attempts to capture atomic and molecular movements were limited to static images that barely scratched the surface of what was happening at the nanoscale. But thanks to innovations in <keyword id="23543456" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electron-microscopy" source="keywords">electron microscopy</keyword> and nanoreactor designs, scientists can now create real-time videos of molecular transformations, as demonstrated in this latest study.<br /><br />Northwestern University’s team used a newly developed technique that allows them to capture these fleeting moments in unprecedented detail. This breakthrough marks a considerable leap in our understanding of nanoscale reactions, opening doors to innovations in chemistry, materials science, and even space technology.<br /><h2>Making water out of thin air</h2>One of the most exciting applications of this technology could be in space exploration. The researchers believe that a scaled-up version of this reaction could help astronauts generate water directly in space. The reaction they documented is somewhat reminiscent of the scene in the movie <em>The Martian</em>, where Matt Damon's character creates water on Mars using fire and rocket fuel. But here, there's no need for such extreme conditions — the combination of palladium and gas is enough.<br /><br />Palladium, the catalyst used in this reaction, is an incredibly valuable and rare metal, often costing more than Rs 26,000 per 10 grams. Part of its scarcity is due to its versatility — it plays a critical role in catalysing numerous chemical reactions used across industries. While the expense might seem prohibitive for creating water-generation devices for space missions, the researchers argue that the benefits outweigh the costs.<br />          <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="114013177" title="Tim Tully taught himself to code at age 6 and still codes daily. Here&amp;#39;s how computer science took him from startups to AI investing at Menlo Ventures." mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>"Palladium might seem expensive, but it's recyclable," Liu points out. "Our process doesn't consume it. The only thing consumed is gas, and hydrogen is the most abundant gas in the universe."<br /><br />As our ability to capture and understand these tiny reactions grows, so too does the potential to manipulate them for groundbreaking applications. Whether it's making water on Mars or enhancing chemical reactions here on Earth, this nano-sized bubble could pave the way for some very big things.<br /><br />The findings of this research have been published in <em>PNAS </em>and can be accessed <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2408277121">here</a>.<br />

WATCH: Researchers capture world’s first video of atoms combining to form the tiniest water bubble ever recorded!

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ISRO’s ambitious lineup of missions include Chandrayaan-4, Chandrayaan-5 and Gaganyaan — likely within the end of this decade!

Ashmita Gupta

Top 10 budget-friendly countries for a winter getaway

Ayush Mehrotra

Why is China building a base on the Moon?

BI India Bureau

WATCH: Researchers capture world’s first video of atoms combining to form the tiniest water bubble ever recorded!

Ankush Banerjee

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