Overview
- The Space Applications Centre shortlisted the MM‑4 patch near Mons Mouton as the safest 1 km² landing area for Chandrayaan‑4 at 84.289° S, 32.808° E.
- MM‑4 recorded a 9.89% hazard level, an average slope of about 5°, and 568 safe 24×24 m grids, outperforming MM‑1 and MM‑3 (>12% hazards) and MM‑5 (72 safe grids).
- Researchers used Chandrayaan‑2 Orbiter High Resolution Camera stereo imagery at 32 cm and 0.32 m‑grid digital elevation models to map slopes, illumination and hazards.
- Site criteria include slopes within the lander’s ~10° design limit, minimal boulders, about 11–12 days of sunlight and direct Earth visibility; one candidate was dropped for permanent shadow.
- The recommendation informs planning for India’s 2028 lunar sample‑return mission, which features propulsion, descender, ascender, transfer and re‑entry modules and awaits landing‑site committee review.