ISRO's Chief S Somanath announced that the next phase of the Chandrayaan programme is currently in development, marking India's continued exploration of the moon.

Chandrayaan-4, as part of this series, is seen as a crucial step towards India's ambition to land an astronaut on the moon by 2040.

During a press conference, Somanath highlighted the significance of Chandrayaan-4 in advancing India's lunar exploration agenda. He emphasised that continuous exploration is essential for achieving the goal set forth by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of landing an Indian on the moon by 2040.

"Chandrayaan-4 is a concept that we are now developing as a continuation of the Chandrayaan series...our honourable Prime Minister has announced that an Indian will land on the moon in 2040. So, if that has to happen, we have to have continuous moon exploration of various kinds," Somanath said.

"Chandrayaan-4 is the first step in the direction...to step a craft on the moon and collect sample and bring it back to Earth. It demonstrates the full cycle of going to the moon and coming back to Earth," Somanath explained.

Additionally, Somanath outlined ISRO's diverse portfolio of projects, ranging from rocket and satellite initiatives to technology development endeavours. He noted the substantial number of ongoing projects across various domains, underscoring ISRO's multifaceted approach to space exploration and technology advancement.

India recently achieved a significant milestone with the successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 lander module on the moon's South Pole on August 23, further solidifying its position as a key player in space exploration. Additionally, in January, India launched its inaugural dedicated solar mission, the Aditya-L1 spacecraft, into the Halo orbit.