Lunar Exploration: Changing Perspectives for a Sustained Presence

by Prof. Shyama Narendranath (URSC, ISRO)

Tuesday 28 Apr 2026, 11:00 → 12:00 Asia/Kolkata

AG66 (https://tifr-res-in.zoom.us/j/96340131071?pwd=i5wSQdqaoriZiCYo1tbDaIplzbwJmm.1 Meeting ID: 963 4013 1071 Passcode: 240142)

India’s lunar exploration program has achieved remarkable milestones with three successful missions to the Moon, including a historic soft landing. Building on this strong foundation, the Chandrayaan series continues to evolve with upcoming missions such as Chandrayaan-4, aimed at returning lunar samples, and LuPEX, focused on in-situ investigation of water ice near the lunar south pole.

Looking ahead, a series of planned missions will mark a significant transition, from exploration to utilization, positioning the Moon not merely as a destination, but as a resource hub and a strategic platform for scientific, technological, and societal applications that can benefit humanity. I will present the lunar exploration roadmap and the scope for research not just about the Moon but ON the Moon.