Our scientists at ISRO, like detectives, were scouting for the perfect place to dig for treasure on the Moon. And now, they have identified a special location called MM-4 in the Mons Mouton area, right near the Moon's south pole. This is where India's next big space mission, called Chandrayaan-4, will land around 2028.
Mons Mouton (MM) is a mountain-like highland area near the Moon's South Pole, and it is considered important because this region may have water ice and safer terrain for future missions.
Why is this Chandrayaan-4 mission so special?
India’s earlier Moon missions were like sending a camera to take pictures and send them back. But Chandrayaan-4 is different. It is India's first mission that will actually collect Moon soil and rock pieces and bring them back to Earth. We will have real Moon samples in our Indian laboratories.
Scientists will study these samples like examining precious gems under a microscope. The spacecraft will have five special parts working together. First, it goes there, then it collects samples, then it launches back, and finally it returns home safely.
Why the MM-4 at the Moon’s south pole?
“The South Pole has special areas that stay in permanent shadow, like the darkest corner of your room that never gets sunlight. These cold, shadowy areas are like natural freezers that have kept water ice trapped there for billions of years. This water ice is not just frozen water—it is treasure!
If scientists can find enough of it, we can make drinking water for people, oxygen for them to breathe, and even rocket fuel. Imagine astronauts staying on the Moon without carrying everything from Earth. That is the dream, and it starts with finding this water ice,” explained space analyst Girish Linganna.
Experts point out that landing on the Moon's South Pole is not easy. The terrain is very rough, with mountains, craters, and huge boulders scattered everywhere, like an obstacle course. A wrong landing can mean disaster; the spacecraft could crash or break.
“ISRO needed to find a spot that is relatively flat and smooth, gets enough sunlight for solar power to work, is free from dangerous boulders, and has a good communication link with Earth. It is like finding a parking space in Mumbai that is not too slanted, not too dark, and not too crowded with obstacles,” added Linganna.
ISRO scientists took high-quality pictures using a special camera on the Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft that is still orbiting the Moon. They studied four possible sites, like MM-1, MM-3, MM-4, and MM-5. They looked at every detail: the slope angle, the height, how many hazards like rocks and craters were there, and where were the safe flat patches where the lander could touch down.
After careful examination, MM-4 emerged as the clear winner. In a one-kilometre area around it, the slope is only about five degrees, which is very gentle, almost like a slightly tilted table. The hazards are the lowest at around nine per cent. There are five hundred and sixty-eight safe spots where the lander can land. It is like comparing four houses for rent, and this MM-4 is the safest one with the best views and strongest foundation.
What will India gain from this landing spot?
“First is safety; the mission needs to land successfully to collect samples. Second is scientific knowledge; the samples from this highland area near the South Pole will teach us about the Moon's ancient history, its rocks, and whether water ice really exists nearby. Third is preparation. If we confirm water ice exists here, it will help India plan longer stays on the Moon or even build a base there one day. This would make India a major player in space exploration, earning respect from all nations worldwide,” remarked Linganna.
Other countries are in a real race to reach the South Pole, too. China has been very active with its Chang'e programme. Their Chang'e-6 mission already landed in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the Moon and brought back samples, though not specifically from the icy areas. But China is not stopping there.
Their Chang'e-7 mission is planned to land right in the South Pole region, specifically near Shackleton Crater, searching for water ice deposits. Even more ambitious is Chang'e-8, which will also target the South Pole to explore resources and test technology for future bases. America also had plans to send a VIPER rover to the Mons Mouton area itself to search for ice and map water resources.
By choosing MM-4, ISRO proves it is making smart, careful decisions using its own Moon data and competing strategically with other nations. India’s earlier lunar missions laid the foundation. Chandrayaan-2 targeted the southern highlands at around 70° south latitude, aiming to demonstrate soft-landing capability and conduct surface science. Although the lander did not achieve a successful touchdown, the orbiter continues to deliver valuable data.
Chandrayaan-3 restored confidence with a historic soft landing at Statio Shiv Shakti, also in the southern hemisphere but still hundreds of kilometres away from the actual south pole. That mission proved India could land precisely and operate a rover safely.
“The MM-4 site at nearly 84° south latitude pushes India closer to the polar extreme than ever before. This region lies near permanently shadowed craters believed to contain water ice deposits preserved for billions of years. At the same time, the chosen landing ellipse offers relatively gentle slopes, manageable boulder density, and sufficient sunlight for stable operations. The balance between scientific richness and engineering safety is what makes Mons Mouton particularly significant,” Srimathy Kesan, the founder and CEO of SpaceKidz India Limited.
As experts have pointed out that, unlike its predecessors, Chandrayaan-4 is a sample-return mission. It will collect lunar regolith using a robotic arm and drill, launch the collected material into lunar orbit, dock with an orbiting module, and eventually return the samples to Earth. This complex architecture featuring ascent, orbital rendezvous, and re-entry demonstrates capabilities essential for future human exploration. Sample return dramatically enhances scientific output because laboratory analysis on Earth allows high-precision isotopic dating, mineralogical examination, and volatile analysis that cannot be achieved by onboard instruments alone.
This is where the concept of the lunar economy becomes critical. The Moon is increasingly viewed not just as a site of exploration but as an economic sphere. Water ice could support refuelling depots for deep-space missions. Rare earth elements and Helium-3 have long been discussed as potential future resources.
Infrastructure such as lunar communication networks, navigation systems, surface habitats, power stations, and cargo delivery services could form a multi-billion-dollar ecosystem. Nations and private companies alike are investing in technologies that enable in-situ resource utilisation, robotic mining, and long-duration surface operations.
“By landing near a polar volatile-rich region and returning samples, India positions itself within this emerging economic architecture. Scientific validation of ice deposits strengthens the case for future resource extraction. Demonstrating docking and ascent technologies builds confidence for crewed missions. Participation in polar exploration also enhances India’s leverage in shaping international frameworks governing lunar resource use,” added Kesan.
Apparently, Russia attempted to revive its lunar programme with Luna-25. Historically, the United States conducted six crewed Apollo landings near the equator, while the Soviet Union achieved robotic sample-return missions decades ago. China has successfully landed multiple Chang'e missions, including a far-side landing and sample return from non-polar terrain. Yet no country has completed a sample-return mission from near the lunar south pole. The race now is not about flags, it is about footholds in resource-rich geography.
If successful, India will join the small group of nations that have returned lunar samples and potentially become the first to do so from near the south polar region. That achievement would strengthen India’s scientific leadership, enhance its geopolitical standing in space diplomacy, and anchor its role in the developing lunar economy.
