Why in News?
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has identified Mons Mouton as the landing site for Chandrayaan-4
Key Highlights:
- Landing Site: Mons Mouton
- A flat-topped mountain near the lunar south pole
- Located near:
- South Pole–Aitken (SPA) Basin
- One of the largest and oldest impact basins in the Solar System
Chandrayaan-4:
Chandrayaan-4 is the fourth phase of India’s lunar exploration programme. It represents a shift from:
- Exploration (Chandrayaan-1, 2, 3)
→ to - Sample return missions (advanced space capability)
Importance of South Pole region:
- Presence of water ice deposits
- Scientifically unexplored terrain
