India's Chandrayaan-5 mission approved for lunar landing

The Indian government has approved the Chandrayaan-5 mission, aiming for a lunar landing by 2040. This mission will include a 350 kg rover and is part of India's broader space ambitions, including a planned space station by 2035. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan announced the approval during a recent event. He highlighted the success of previous missions, including Chandrayaan-3, which achieved a soft landing on the Moon. The agency is also collaborating with Japan for future lunar missions. Additionally, a new launch pad is being developed at Kulasekarapattinam, Tamil Nadu, to support small satellite launches. This facility aims to enhance India's capabilities in the global satellite launch market.