ISRO to set up lunar sample curation facility for Chandrayaan-4 Mission

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will establish a dedicated curation facility for the safe handling and long-term preservation of lunar samples that will be brought back by the upcoming Chandrayaan-4 mission.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh informed Parliament on Thursday that the mission will ensure the safe collection, transport and storage of lunar materials, including rocks and soil, by transferring sealed, leak-proof sample canisters to specially designed curation facilities equipped with contamination-control systems.

“Establishment of a curation facility is planned with advanced instruments to preserve the integrity of the samples for scientific analysis,” Singh said. He added that, as per the COSPAR (Committee on Space Research) Planetary Protection Policy, lunar missions fall under a category that does not require stringent biological contamination controls.

These curation facilities are specialised laboratories designed to store and analyse extraterrestrial samples. Maintaining low humidity is critical for the long-term preservation of lunar materials. Scientists will study the samples to investigate mineral composition and geological history, offering insights into the formation of the moon.

Responding to a question by YSRCP MP Ayodhya Rami Reddy Alla on the technological advancements being developed for the mission, Singh said ‘Chandrayaan-4’ will incorporate a range of innovations to overcome the challenges of lunar sample return. These include precise rendezvous and docking systems, navigation and attitude control for orbit management, robotic drill and scoop for sample collection and sealing, robotic arm for sample transfer, autonomous ascent systems, heat shield technology for the re-entry module and deceleration systems to overcome the challenges of lunar sample return.

Besides, Chandrayaan 4 mission would necessitate achieving a few technologies like heavy-lift launch vehicles, human-rated vehicles, docking technology, high-capacity landers and re-entry technology, to name a few.

Chandrayaan-4 will involve two launch vehicles carrying five modules in total. These modules will execute complex manoeuvres, including docking in earth’s orbit before heading toward the moon. Once in lunar orbit, the modules will separate: the descender will land and collect samples, while the ascender will return to dock with the orbiting modules. The return module will then carry the samples back to earth, simulating key components of future crewed lunar missions.