Union Cabinet Approves Four Major Space Projects

On 18th September 2024, the Union Cabinet greenlit four major space missions, aligning with ISRO's Vision 2047, include a mission to Venus, Chandrayaan-4, the Gaganyaan continuation, and the development of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS).

Key Points

Venus Mission: ISRO plans to launch its Venus mission by March 2028, aiming to study the planet's surface, atmosphere, and solar interactions. The project is approved at ₹1,236 crore.
Chandrayaan-4 Mission: The ₹2,014 crore mission will land on the lunar surface, collect samples, and bring them back. This mission prepares India for future manned lunar expeditions by 2040.
Gaganyaan Continuation and Space Station: The Cabinet approved ₹20,193 crore for the Gaganyaan follow-up and the Indian space station project, targeted for completion by December 2029.
Next-Generation Launch Vehicle: A new launch vehicle to increase ISRO’s capability from 10T to 30T in low Earth orbit will be developed at a cost of ₹8,239 crore, with the first launch expected in 84 months.