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ISRO is developing its heaviest and most powerful rocket aimed at supporting lunar missions,
 
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The Lunar Module Launch Vehicle (LMLV) is the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) heaviest and most powerful rocket in development, projected to be ready by 2035. Designed specifically for lunar missions, it will support India's first human Moon mission planned for 2040.

Key aspects of the LMLV include:

• Payload capacity: 80 tonnes to LEO and ~27 tonnes to lunar orbit.
• Design: Three stages (2 liquid propellant stages + 1 cryogenic stage), 27 engines in the first core cluster.
• Scale: Height equivalent to a 40-storey building; strap-on boosters taller than current rockets.
• Purpose: To enable crewed lunar missions, transport lunar habitats and cargo for long-duration lunar presence.
• Timeline: Expected readiness by 2035, lunar human missions by 2040.
• Strategic role: A crucial heavy-lift vehicle for India's deep space ambitions, complementing the enhanced LVM3 for space station module launches.
• Shift from NGLV: NGLV development dropped; LMLV focuses on lunar missions, while LVM3 upgrades support Bharat Antariksh Station modules.

This development marks a significant advancement in India’s space exploration capability, placing ISRO among the leading space agencies with super-heavy lift capacity suitable for lunar exploration and beyond.

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